London, ON – Chills, sniffles, sneezes and coughs are regular occurrences in late-November, as influenza takes hold in the community, however these symptoms seem to be noticeably absent so far in the fall of 2014. The limited amount of local influenza activity has prompted the Middlesex-London Health Unit to encourage local residents to get immunized against the flu, if they haven’t done so already.
“Although we’re not seeing a lot of illness right now, we know that flu season will be upon us soon enough and because it takes about two weeks for the vaccine to provide maximum protection, now is a great time to get the flu shot,” says Marlene Price, Manager of the Vaccine Preventable Disease Team at the Middlesex-London Health Unit. “Getting the annual seasonal vaccine is the best way to protect yourself and those around you from becoming sick with influenza this year.”
While the Health Unit is not offering any additional community-based flu clinics this fall, the agency is offering the vaccine at its immunization clinics located at 50 King Street in London and at Strathroy’s Kenwick Mall. The London clinic is open Mondays and Fridays from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Wednesdays from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.; while the Strathroy clinic is open the first Tuesday of every month from 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The free seasonal flu vaccine is also available at more than 80 local pharmacies, health care providers’ offices and workplace clinics. Please note that children between the ages of six months and 5 years of age must get their flu shot from the Health Unit or a health care provider.
In addition to getting the seasonal influenza vaccine, there are other steps you can take to minimize the risks of spreading influenza, including coughing or sneezing into your upper arm, washing your hands frequently with pump soap and water or a waterless hand sanitizer, and staying home if you become ill.
People of any age can get influenza however the elderly, those with chronic medical conditions, children less than five years of age and pregnant women are at higher risk of developing complications associated with the flu, such as pneumonia that could lead to hospitalization. The seasonal influenza vaccine is available free of charge to all Ontario residents over the age of six months. Each year a new vaccine is created based on recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO), which determines which circulating strains are most likely to cause seasonal infections.
Media Contact:
Trudy Sweetzir, Communications Assistant, Middlesex-London Health Unit, 519-663-5317 extension 2448
Spokesperson:
Marlene Price, Manager of Vaccine Preventable Diseases, Middlesex-London Health Unit