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The season of immunization is upon us once again.
Hundreds are lining up at free flu clinics around the Okanagan, after the official vaccination effort began this week to protect those most at risk from the virus.
Interior Health Public Health Nurse Kathryn Carmichael was on hand during the Peachland flu clinic to help answer questions and explain who is eligible for the shot.
“Any seniors, 65 years of age or older. Anybody with a chronic health condition, and all of their household contacts; also children under five and all of their household contacts. Anyone who is in a facility, anyone who is visiting health care centres; it’s really quite wide open,” she says.
Although unrelated to influenza, many people may be taking extra steps to protect their health this season following recent media reports warning of an Ebola outbreak, and cautioning against the spread of Enterovirus d68.
“Even if it is not necessarily close to home, sometimes it puts a little more awareness about how can I protect my health, so it certainly is possible (those people) who have never been here before are showing up,” explains Carmicheal.
This year the flu vaccine, as always, contains two A strains and one B strain, she says.
“That is the H1N1 -- that was the pandemic a few years ago -- that is included in this years flu shot again. Also an H3N2 strain and then an influenza B strain.”
Around 350 people were vaccinated during the Peachland free flu clinic, and most people Castanet spoke with say they are immunized every year.
One man says he does it every year because it is a lot safer for his health, and it's better to be safe than sorry.
Another says he came down with the flu once in the past and is now immunized every year because he doesn’t want to be that sick again.
A third man laughed when he told Castanet, “My wife is an (registered nurse) and she told me I had to.”
For dates, times and locations of flu clinics happening near you click here, or call the Kelowna flu line at 250-868-7715.
