Roll Up Your Sleeve

By 250 News

Northern Health is is urging people in high risk categories to get their flu shot.

There have been four confirmed cases of influenza A in the region’s Northeast Health Services Delivery Area.

“We’ve had those cases of influenza A reported in the Northeast. We’ve also recorded higher than normal school absentee rates in the Northeast due to influenza-like illness. These are clear signals that the influenza season is here in our region. Free influenza vaccine is still available, so we urge people get their immunization… especially for people in at-risk groups,” said Dr. Charles Badenhorst, Northern Health’s Northeast medical health officer.

Every year, about 17 per cent of Canadians will be infected with influenza. Influenza symptoms include fever, headache, muscle pain, runny nose, sore throat, extreme tiredness, and cough. Although colds and other viruses may cause similar symptoms, influenza symptoms tend to be worse.

The flu vaccine is free for those who are in high-risk categories, which include: 

• People 65 years of age and older;
• Residents of long-term care facilities;
• People with chronic diseases;  
• Children from six to 23 months old;
• Household and child care contacts of children up to 23 months old;
• Health care workers; and
• First responders such as police officers, fire-fighters, and ambulance attendants.

There is an immunization clinic at the Norhtern Health Unit on Edmonton Street set for tomorrow, December 1st  from noon to 6 p.m. for those who are at risk.

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