NWHU to hold flu shot clinics next week

by Ken Johnston
Editor

Fear of a little needle could be the difference between staying healthy or getting influenza this winter.

For the second year in a row, the province of Ontario is funding flu vaccinations for all Ontario citizens and the Northwestern Health Unit will be holding several clinics in the Rainy River District to administer them.

The first two will be at Rainy River High School in the gym October 22 and 23 from 3-7 p.m. On Oct. 25 they will be in Bergland at McCrosson-Tovell School from 3-7 p.m. November 7th they will be in Barwick at the community hall from 3-7 p.m. and on Nov. 8th they will be in Stratton at Our Lady of the Way School from 3-7 p.m.

Last year 401 people took advantage of the free public clinics and another 5-600 were vaccinated at the Rainy River Clinic, who tends to do the high risk people. Public Health Nurse Gayleen Jasper said that across the province the number of influenza cases were way down and in this area where there were outbreaks the people had not been immunized.

This year the strain being immunized for is the A/New Caledonia, B/Sichuana and A/Moscow virus. The World Health Organization tracks the virus strains very carefully and can recommend a vaccine for North America as far back as last February.

While it is not necessarily the flu that kills people, it was the 6th leading cause of death in 1996. For the most part the flu contributes to the onslaught of other illnesses as it weakens the body and makes way for complications like heart and kidney failure and pneumonia.

Avoiding exposure to the flu virus is very difficult as a person is contagious before they have fully developed the sickness. A sneeze from a person can spread the virus to everyone in a room almost instantly. “A sneeze releases it at about 167km/hr. which means the virus covers an area of 5 metres in about 1/10 of a second,” explained Jasper.

The myth that the shot actually causes the flu is just that, a myth. Jasper noted that it is impossible to get it from the vaccine as it contains dead or inactive samples of the strain, to help the body develop antibodies to the virus. That process takes about two weeks. However a person can come into contact with the flu and not fully develop it until three days later.

Hence if the person contracted the virus just before getting the vaccination it could appear that they contracted the illness from the shot.

People who are allergic to eggs and the preservative thimerosal should not get the shot. People worried about other medical conditions should consult their physician before getting the shot.

The flu often lasts from 5-10 days and causes coughs and fatigue that can last for several weeks. This costs companies and the province money as sick days add up and the health care system has to treat people who are ill.

All members of the public 6 months or older are encouraged to attend one of the many clinics across the district in the weeks to come. All that a person has to bring is their health card.