Starting Oct. 31, residents of Prairie North Health Region will be able to get their annual flu shot to protect themselves against seasonal influenza.
Prairie North’s influenza immunization clinics begin Monday in communities across the region. Flu shots are free of charge and available for everyone six months of age and older. All people are encouraged to be immunized against seasonal influenza and to get that immunization early. This will provide optimal protection throughout the flu season that usually runs to around the end of March.
Flu shots are available at clinics and public health offices across Prairie North until the end of March. Flu shots are also available through some physician or nurse practitioner clinics and through participating pharmacies.
Only injectable vaccine is being offered through Saskatchewan’s free public influenza immunization program this year. The injectable vaccine provides protection against four different flu virus strains that are most likely to circulate in 2016-17.
“Influenza is more serious than the common cold,” explained Kelly Greenwald, Public Health Nurse and co-ordinator of this year’s PNHR influenza immunization campaign. “Seniors, children, pregnant women and people with chronic health conditions or compromised immune systems are more likely to get complications from the flu. By getting the flu shot, you protect not only yourself but your family members, friends, co-workers, colleagues, and community,” added Greenwald.
Every year millions of Canadians catch the flu. Most people recover within 10 days, but others may develop serious complications that can send them to hospital. Getting vaccinated can help prevent the spread of influenza and unnecessary complications in others. Influenza is caused by a virus and spreads very easily between people when someone infected sneezes, coughs or speaks. The flu virus may change slightly each year, which is why getting immunized annually is necessary.
“Being immunized against influenza is the best way to prevent getting and spreading the seasonal flu,” stated Greenwald. “Prairie North continues its focus on increasing accessibility to immunization opportunities. We offer public flu clinics in a variety of settings and extend flu clinic hours into evenings and weekends to make it easy for people to get immunized,” she said.
Immunization against the influenza virus is a safe and effective way to prevent getting sick with and spreading the virus. Talk to your doctor, nurse, pharmacist or public health official if you have questions or concerns about getting the flu shot.
A complete listing of all influenza immunization clinics in Prairie North is available at www.pnrha.ca/flu .
Flu clinic schedules are available at most physician clinics in the health region and on posters in many community locations. Schedules are being advertised in local newspapers.
