With flu season expected to be severe this year, St Joes hopes to get ahead of the curve by running a Flu, COVID & Cold Clinic at its West 5th Campus. The goal of this dedicated clinic is to provide both adults and children with timely care, while reducing the number of patients visiting emergency departments for respiratory illnesses commonly seen throughout the fall and winter.
The Flu, COVID & Cold Clinic will begin seeing patients Tuesday, November 29, by appointment only. Online bookings are now available by visiting stjoes.ca/FluCOVIDCold. The clinic will not be open to walk-ins. A doctor’s referral is not necessary.
The Flu, COVID & Cold Clinic is a collaborative effort between St. Joseph’s, Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS) and primary care doctors.
Who should use this clinic and when?
Adults and children experiencing flu, COVID or cold symptoms, who are unable to seek timely care from their family doctor, or do not have a family doctor, should book an appointment if:
· Their symptoms are not improving after a few days, despite using common over-the-counter medications as indicated on the label, such as ibuprofen (Advil), acetaminophen (Tylenol), nasal rinses and cold/flu medications
• They are particularly worried about any of their symptoms
Cold and flu symptoms may last 1-2 weeks and can fluctuate during that time.
The clinic will deal with flu only
The Flu, COVID & Cold Clinic is unable to provide emergency care. Patients should call 9-1-1 or go to the emergency department if experiencing:
• shortness of breath
• chest pain
• confusion
What are common symptoms of flu, COVID and cold?
• Fever
• Cough
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