Duane Hicks
The Northwestern Health Unit is reporting the number of ’flu shots it has administered so far this season is lower than a year ago.
“The number of ’flu shots the health unit has given this year is lower than usual,” noted Donna Stanley, manager of infectious diseases for the Northwestern Health Unit.
“We need to remember, though, that doctors’ offices and a few pharmacies—new this year—also give ’flu shots, and we don’t get those numbers, so it is difficult to definitively say how the actual total compares year to year,” she remarked.
“Based only on what we’ve given, our numbers are lower and we saw lower interest in early November,” Stanley added.
“But we are also continuing to see interest now, so our numbers may come up again during the winter.”
There have been confirmed cases of influenza both in the Rainy River and Kenora districts so far this winter, but exactly how prevalent it’s been is hard to say.
“Often people with influenza aren’t tested, so the number of positive lab results does not indicate how prevalent influenza is, but we do know it is circulating across the northwest,” Stanley said.
The health unit always advises people to get their shot—and before Christmas is as good a time as any.
High-priority groups include the elderly and people with chronic disease, as well as household members and caregivers of the elderly and the ill.
Pregnant women, family and household members of pregnant women, or those with young babies also are strongly advised to get their ’flu shots, said Stanley.
“This is similar to the principle of health-care providers getting ’flu shots—protect the vulnerable people for whom you provide care,” she stressed.
But Stanley urged everyone to get a ’flu shot “because it reduces your personal risk of getting very ill from this virus, and it protects others.”
“Some people say, ‘I never get the ’flu,’” she noted. “A comparison would be to say, ‘I never have car accidents so I don’t need a seatbelt.’
“A ’flu shot is prevention.”
The health unit will continue to offer ’flu shots by appointment, usually until the end of April.
People also can get them at their local clinic.
To make an appointment at the health unit, drop by the local office or call toll-free 1-866-46l8-2240 to be connected to any of the health unit’s offices and make an appointment.
As always, the health unit reminds the public that they can help protect themselves from getting sick through regular cleaning, washing hands frequently, drinking plenty of liquids, eating healthy, and being physically active.
If you are feeling unwell, particularly in the first day or two, and if a fever is present, you should avoid going into workplaces, schools, long-term care homes, and hospitals.
