Flu season is fast approaching, which means that the time to get flu shots is coming just as quickly. Starting Oct. 22, flu shots will be available at clinics throughout the city and at pharmacies in the area. Dr. Ashok Chhetri recommends everyone get their flu shot this season.
The influenza virus, most commonly known as the flu, is highly contagious, one of the top ten infectious diseases affecting the Canadian population. The difference between influenza and the common cold virus is the quick onset.
“You go to work in the morning and you are completely fine, and when you come home at night you are completely down, just like you were hit by a truck,” said Chhetri.
Symptoms include fever, headache, cough, muscle aches, and runny nose. In children and elderly people, fever may not be present with influenza, said Chhetri.
It spreads person to person though droplets, when people with the virus cough or sneeze. It is also possible to get it indirectly though touching a surface with the virus on it and touching your face.
One of the unique things with influenza is the period of communicability, explained Chhetri. People can begin to spread the disease before they have symptoms. The communicability period is one day before symptoms and five days after.
“You might be infecting your coworkers, patients, family members before you even know about it.”
The people who are more prone to get complications are seniors, children under 5, pregnant women, and adults and children with existing chronic conditions, like diabetes or heart disease.
While there are plenty of people who believe they are not at risk, Chhetri recommends that they get a flu shot as well. The reason is not to avoid the disease, but instead to stop the transmission of the disease. While many healthy people might not show symptoms, they could still infect people around you, and vaccination is the best way to stop yourself from being a carrier of the disease.
“It’s not only about you. Think about your home, your grandparents, children or grandchildren who are very high risk for influenza disease or getting severe complications from the disease.”
This year’s vaccines will contain two strains of Influenza A and two strains of Influenza B. Long term care residents will get a larger dose of the vaccine than the general population, because they are higher risk.
The first clinic will be at St. Mary’s Cultural Centre on Oct. 22 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., closed between 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The full list of clinics is available at 4flu.ca or by calling 1-866-343-1460.
