Public urged to get free flu shot

Ken Johnston
Editorial@RainyRiverRecord.com

With fears of a flu Pandemic echoing around the continent, local Northwestern Health Unit (NWHU) officials are issuing a call for the public to get the influenza vaccine.
According to the World Health Organization, New Zealand experienced a flu epidemic which put a huge burden on the healthcare system there with thousands of visits to hospital emergency rooms. That coupled with the fact that there have already been three confirmed cases of the flu in Southern Ontario; which is very early; Gayleen Jasper of the NWHU urges all people six months or older to get the flu vaccination which is completely free for all Ontario residents.
Those getting the flu shot last week numbered 173 over two days in Rainy River, about the same as last year (184). However, Nicole Therrien, Nurse Practioner at the Rainy River Clinic, noted that her numbers were way down there. The clinic tends to deal mostly with the high risk people, but will do others if need be.
Jasper said that they had to postpone the flu shot clinic in Bergland due to inclement weather last week. It will now be held this Thursday at McCrosson-Tovell School from 3-7 p.m. Clinics will also be held in Barwick and Stratton on Nov. 7 and 8 respectively.
Ken Allan,Infectious Disease Control Team Leader NWHU said that about every 30 years a strain of the flu comes along that is really bad and places a huge strain on the health care system and costs lives. In 1918 Allan said the flu killed between 20 and 30 million people. The last Pandemic was in the 1970s and Allan expects that another one could be in the offing very soon.
While it is impossible to predict exactly when the next pandemic will occur, the NWHU is urging everyone to get a flu shot. Jasper noted that it is impossible to get the flu from the shot as the virus in the vaccine is dead.
She will be taking appointments for Wednesdays at the Rainy River NWHU office for those who can not come to one of the remaining area clinics. Call 852-3268 for more information or to book an appointment.