No time like the present to get a flu shot
By Nelson Daily Staff
There were cars and people filling the parking lot of the Prestige Inn Lakeside Resort Wednesday.
The beehive of activity wasn’t because of a convention but the first flu shot clinic of the season as close to 1,000 people were expected to roll up the shirt sleeve and get poked by an Interior Health nurse.
IHA staff said there are many myths and misconceptions about the flu shot.
What is for certain is the shot cannot give peope the flu. The vaccine used in B.C. contains dead influenza viruses that cannot cause infection.
Influenza is a highly contagious infection and can be very serious, especially for those with heart, lung and other health problems.
The IHA said in years when influenza is widespread in B.C., hundreds of people may die from influenza or its complications, such as pneumonia.
Flu shots are safe, effective, and provided free for:
- People 65 years and older and their caregivers/household contacts
- People of any age in residential care facilities
- Children and adults with chronic health conditions and their household contacts
- Children & adolescents (6 months to 18 years) with conditions treated for long periods of time with Acetylsalicylic Acid (Aspirin/ ASA) and their household contacts.
- Children & adults who are very obese
- Aboriginal people
- All children 6-59 months of age
- Household contacts and caregivers of infants and children 0-59 months of age
- Pregnant women at any stage of pregnancy during the influenza season and their household contacts
- Visitors to hospitals, health centres and residential care facilities
- People who work with live poultry
- Health care and other care providers in facilities and community settings who are capable of transmitting influenza disease to those at high risk of influenza complications
- Individuals who provide care or service in potential outbreak settings housing high risk persons (e.g., crew on ships)
- People who provide essential community services (First Responders, Corrections Workers)
- Inmates of provincial correctional institutions
People not eligible for free flu vaccine through the publicly-funded program should contact their physician, local pharmacy, walk-in clinic, travel clinic or private provider.
Wednesday’s clinic was the first of the season for the Nelson area.
For more Flu Shot Clinics in the Kootenay/Boundary region go to:
http://www.interiorhealth.ca/YourHealth/Immunization/SeasonalFluCampaign/Pages/FluClinics.aspx
