TYH: The importance of getting the flu shot

Sep 29, 2020 | 1:04 PM

“Right now it’s going to be incredibly important for all of us to protect ourselves, our families, and our communities by getting immunized for influenza,” those are the words of our provincial health officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry.

Earlier this month she made it quite clear that everyone, especially this year, should be receiving the flu shot. Dr. Henry has mentioned that telling the difference between the flu and COVID-19 can be difficult as the symptoms are similar.

An average of 12,200 people are hospitalized due to influenza each year in Canada, and there are 3,500 deaths annually. According to B.C.’s provincial health officer, reducing the number of influenza patients in hospital is key to getting through the fall and winter months with COVID-19—as more beds means more room incase things take a turn for the worst.

“The flu shot should be taken by everybody, from children , to adults, to seniors to teenagers—everybody should be getting the flu shot.”—Patrick Dinelle, Pharmacy Manager, Third Ave. Pharmacy

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Dinelle says that it’s even more important to get immunized if you are someone or know with an underlying health condition such as diabetes, someone who is elderly or if you are around young children. Young kids, seniors, and those with underlying health issues are more prone to severe illness if they contract the flu.

Many of the physical things the you can do to prevent the spread of the flu this season will look very similar to the COVID-19 basics, such as washing your hands, coughing and sneezing into your elbow pocket and cleaning and disinfecting high-touch surfaces. The flu shot will be available to northerners in the month of October.

by Veronica Beltran

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TYH: The importance of getting the flu shot

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