No line ups for the flu vaccine this year.
Unlike last year during the H-1-N-1 scare, people in Grey Bruce are not facing long line ups to get their flu shots.
The Manager Vaccine Preventable Disease Program for the Grey Bruce Health unit says more than 56 thousand doses of the flu vaccine have been distributed across the region.
Karen Sweiger says the vaccine is now available at doctors offices, local hospitals, nursing homes and nursing agencies.
She says getting the annual flu shot is the most effective way to protect yourself and your family and co workers from getting the flu.
Sweiger says influenza is very contagious and can cause potentially serious infection of the lungs and is spread by people coughing or sneezing releasing droplets of the virus into the air.
She says high fever, muscle aches and fatigue are the main symptoms and can last 3 to 4 days.
Sweiger says influenza can worsen many pre existing health conditions and anywhere from two thousand to 8 thousand people die from the illness every year.
She says this year they are focusing on young children aged 6 months to 23 months because they have very high hospitalization rates because of of the flu.
Sweiger says three different vaccines make up this year’s flu shot.
14 flu shots clinics will be put on by the Health Unit throughout Grey Bruce beginning October 28th in Owen Sound at the Health Unit building.
A complete list of clinics can be found on the Health Unit’s web site at www.publichealthgreybruce.on.ca
