Vaccination is the best protections against influenza, says Island Health, which is hosting several flu shot clinics in the Nanaimo area.
The health authority is advising that children, youths and caregivers can get vaccinated at flu shot clinics or from pharmacists or physicians and vaccines can be administered as an injection or nasal spray.
Influenza can be fatal to young children, the elderly and people with compromised immune systems, so B.C.’s flu immunization is targeted at people who face high risk from contracting the disease and people at risk of transmitting the virus to high-risk individuals.
Flu vaccinations can be purchased and administered at local pharmacies, but the season’s flu vaccine is available free of charge to people who qualify under a range of criteria, such as people over 65 and their caregivers, children and adults with chronic health conditions, health care workers and emergency responders, owners and operators of poultry farms, corrections officers, correctional institution inmates and others.
Patients are advised to bring their CareCard or other government identification, such as a valid driver’s licence, to the clinics and to remember to wear a short-sleeved shirt.
To learn more about influenza and B.C.’s vaccination program, click here.
To see a list of upcoming clinics in the Nanaimo area, visit www.islandfluclinics.ca.
