THUNDER BAY -- The Health Unit began its annual flu-shot campaign with a season’s first flu clinic Monday.
The Thunder Bay and District Health Unit’s inFLUence program aims to promote the use of the vaccine in this area in an effort to curb the virus’s impact on the community this winter.
Monday’s clinic, held at the Italian cultural Centre, focused on the high-risk population.
Medical officer of health David Williams says getting a flu shot early in the season is important because it will help boost the body’s natural immunity to fight the flu. He added that it is one way to keep a step ahead of the virus that causes illness and death every year.
“The flu is a serious respiratory illness that can lead to pneumonia,” he said Monday.
“Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent influenza, so get the flu shot. Get it early. Encourage those around you to get it too.
“It can take up to two weeks to build up immunity against the virus. The earlier a person receives their flu shot, the sooner their body can make the antibodies to fight off the flu and prevent spreading it to others.”
The high risk clinics continue Tuesday. People who are at greater risk of serious illness from flu-related complications are encouraged to attend.
High-risk individuals include:
- People with weakened immune systems due to chronic illness or medical treatment
- Pregnant women
- Young children under the age of 5
- Older adults over the age of 65
Other priority groups for the flu shot are those who take care of people in these groups, including health-care providers, teachers, home care workers, day care providers and family members who have an infant in the home who is under six months and cannot be immunized themselves.
The Health Unit will be offering 24 additional clinics over the next five weeks with locations in Thunder Bay, the surrounding rural communities, and in Greenstone, Nipigon, Red Rock, Terrace Bay, Schreiber, Marathon and Manitouwadge. The flu shot is also available from family doctors, health clinics, health centres, nurse practitioners, and it may be available at some neighbourhood retailers, pharmacies and workplaces.
“The flu shot is safe, effective, and now it’s more convenient than ever to get one. Make it a part of a healthy lifestyle,” Williams said.
For more information about the flu or for a flu schedule, visit ThunderBayFlu.ca, or call the flu line at 624-9082 and toll-free at 1-866-607-3337.
