As flu season approaches, Islanders are being asked to get the vaccine, not the flu.
Flu vaccine will be available beginning Monday, October 29th, in doctors' offices throughout Prince Edward Island.
The Health and Social Services System, the Medical Society of Prince Edward Island, and the PEI Lung Association all support Health Canada's recommendation that all persons who have contact with patients or residents in health facilities receive the flu vaccine. This includes all those providing care in long-term care facilities, hospitals, outpatient and emergency departments, medical offices and home care settings. Flu vaccine clinics are now being offered to these employees in all government health facilities.
Studies show that the spread of influenza from ill health care workers to their vulnerable patients results in a significant rate of illness and death among patients. Often the worker is contagious although they do not feel ill, and as a result they pass the virus on to patients. With the shortage of health care and replacement workers, it is important to help keep staff free of flu if possible.
In addition, people at high risk of influenza are encouraged to receive the vaccine, including children and adults with chronic heart and lung conditions, persons over 65 years of age, those with conditions which lower their immunity such as diabetes, and cancer and those living in households with others at high risk of flu.
Islanders wishing to receive the vaccine should arrange to do so through their family doctor.
A flu vaccine clinic will be held for people without a family doctor Saturday morning, November 3, at the Parkdale Medical Clinic. Appointments are not necessary. The cost of the vaccine is $15 per dose.