Flu shot season is here
Posted Oct 12, 2010 04:54:34 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The flu vaccine is available starting this week and is a combination of the H1N1 virus and two other influenza strains.
The World Health Organization decides every year what influenza strains will go into the seasonal flu shot, and because of the H1N1 pandemic last year, the H1N1 virus was chosen as one of the flu strains.
Karen Quigley-Hobbs, Director of Infectious Diseases with the Region of Waterloo Public Health tells 570News there are new additions to the list of people who are at high risk for getting the flu. These include children between the ages of two and four, aboriginal people and those who are morbidly obese. Other high risk groups are people over 65 years old and those with medical conditions.
These high risk groups, along with children over six months old and adults of all ages are encouraged to get the flu shot. You can get the free vaccine at the doctor or flu shot clinics around the city.
About 25 to 30 per cent of people in the region receive the flu shot each year.
Quigley-Hobbs says they are hoping for more to come out this year. “We encourage people to get the flu shot to protect themselves and their families and loved ones from influenza.”
There have been no reported cases of influenza in the region this season. Once you get the vaccine, it takes two weeks to start working.
To find out more, check out the Region of Waterloo Health Unit website
