This year the flu shots will be available beginning on October 20th. The flu shot is a vaccine that offers the best protection against influenza or “the flu.”
“We hope to vaccinate as many people as possible who are at greatest risk of severe complications from the flu”, stated Dr. Greg Mercer, Medical Officer of Health for Western Health. “. “We also want to ensure that the caregivers who look after these high risk folks, as well as the people who live with them, are also vaccinated”.
This year, the flu vaccine will be offered to people who are likely to spread Influenza to a person at risk of having serious complications from the flu. The list of people eligible to receive Influenza vaccine has now been expanded to include people who live with someone who has a chronic illness, or people who care for someone with a chronic illness.
As in past years, Western Health, guided by the Provincial Influenza Program, will continue to offer free vaccines to: All persons over 65; All children between the ages of 6 to 23 months; Adults and children with chronic illness;; Residents of nursing homes and community care facilities; Health care workers; Essential services workers; Individuals who work with poultry; and Pregnant women
In addition to the flu shots given out by family doctors, Western Health staff will be working with seniors groups, healthy baby clubs, family-resource centers, and local community councils to make flu clinics available where people work and gather. All Western Health employees will also be offered the flu vaccine.
The influenza virus infects the nose, throat and lungs. It causes tiredness, headaches, high fevers, and aching muscles. It reduces the body’s ability to fight off other infections. For the general population the flu can impact our family life and our work life but for very young children, people over 65, and others with a chronic medical condition, the flu can cause serious health complications
The flu virus is easily spread when we cough or sneeze and can live for 48 hours on surfaces such as telephones or doorknobs. We all need to practice good hygiene to help prevent the spread of the flu. The flu season in this province usually runs from December through April.
Carol Galliott, Communicable Disease Control Nurse with Western Health reminds people, “Get your annual flu shot; Clean your hands frequently; Cover your nose and mouth when you cough and sneeze; Regularly clean common shared areas in your home; and stay home if you are sick”.
For more information on flu shot clinics, call your local Community Health Office or your family physician’s office.
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For more information,
Please contact:
Heidi Staeben-Simmons
Director of Communications,
Western Health 709-637-5252