Doctor’s offices and health centre clinics on Prince Edward Island have received their first shipment of influenza vaccine for this season.
“The Department of Health will provide the vaccine to doctor’s offices and family health centres free of charge, but there will be a fee to cover the cost of administering the vaccine, as in past years,” says Dr. Lamont Sweet, Deputy Chief Health Officer.
It is recommended that those at highest risk of serious illness from influenza receive the vaccine. High risk groups include people over the age of 65; adults or children with chronic lung or heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease or other chronic illness; residents of chronic care facilities; pregnant women; and healthy children between the ages of six months and 23 months.
Health care workers are also encouraged to receive the vaccine for the benefit of their patients, their families, and themselves.
Health clinics across the province will provide the vaccine by appointment to those without a family physician. Announcements will be made in the near future regarding dates and times of the clinics in the various locations.
The Public Health Agency of Canada states that about 10 -25 percent of Canadians may get influenza each year, with about 4,000 - 8,000 deaths occurring due to influenza-related illness and complications. Because the strains vary each year, it is necessary to be immunized each fall, before the start of the new influenza season and with the strains in the current year’s vaccine. “This year, the vaccine will provide immunity against A/Soloman Island, A/Wisconsin and B/Malaysia flu viruses,” said Dr. Sweet.