Influenza is an infection of the upper airway caused by the influenza virus. Upon contracting the disease, a person may be at the risk of other infections, including viral or bacterial pneumonia.  Serious complications of the flu include hospitalization or even death.

Some population groups, such as elderly over 65, very young children and people who have have lung/heart diseases, certain chronic health conditions, or weakened immunity are at a higher risk for serious flu complications. Healthy pregnant women in their 2nd half of their pregnancy are also at a greater risk of hospitalization. Yet, even healthy even healthy individuals can get very sick and transmit it to others.

Influenza is easily transmissible from person to person through coughing, sneezing and personal contact. Moreover, the influenza virus can also be spread when a person comes into contact or touches respiratory secretions or tiny droplets from a cough or sneeze on another person or object and then touches their eyes, mouth or nose. Therefore, it is very important to maintain proper sanitization to prevent transmission.

The most common symptoms of the flu include fever, headache, muscle aches, extreme fatigue, runny nose, sore throat  and cough. Children may also experience nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. Symptoms tend to begin at about 1-4 days (on average 2 days), after a person is first exposed. Fever and other symptoms can usually last up to 7-10 days, while the cough and weakness may even persist 1-2 weeks longer.

Given the seriousness of the disease, getting vaccinated is the best way to protect against the flu. When you get virus, not only does it protect yourself, but it also protects others around you.

Flu vaccines stimulate your immune system to develop antibodies 2 weeks after vaccination. These antibodies will protect you against infection when you come into contact with the influenza virus at a later date.

A flu vaccine is needed every year because of:

1) protection declines over time from the vaccination and

2) flu viruses are constantly changing

The influenza virus is reviewed yearly and the flu vaccine is updated and designed  to cover the most commonly predicted flu viruses that year.

This year (2015-2016) the flu viruses protects against:

• A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus 
• A/Switzerland/9715293/2013 (H3N2)-like virus 
• B/Phuket/3073/2013-like virus 
• B/Brisbane/60/2008-like virus (in quadrivalent vaccines only)

Flu seasons runs from November through April in Canada. The flu vaccines are usually available in October. For best protection, it is recommended to get the flu vaccine as soon as available, the earlier the better during the flu season.

The Canada’s National Advisory Committee on Immunization recommends that everyone 6 months of age and older gets a flu vaccine, with rare exception.

The inactivated influenza vaccine is made of killed influenza viruses and is what most patients receive. It is usually given as a single dose intramuscularly injection in the deltoid muscle. However, 2 doses are required for children under 9 years of age who have never had an influenza vaccine before. The 2nd dose helps to raise the level of protection and is given 4 weeks after.

The live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) is made from weakened live influenza viruses and is usually administered to children between 2-17 years of age who are at high risk of serious illness from influenza. LAIV is given intranasally into both nostrils as a single dose for children 9 years of age and over. However, 2 doses are required for children 2-8 years of age who have never had an influenza vaccine before. The 2nd dose helps to raise the level of protection and is given 4 weeks after.

If you wish to make an appointment, please feel free to contact one of our locations here.  Although walk-ins are welcome, a wait time may be possible and subject to the availability of the pharmacists there.

• Children 6 months to less than 5 years of age
• Pregnant women who are at any stage of pregnancy during the influenza season
• Seniors 65 years and older
• Residents of any age living in residential care, assisted living or other group facilities
• Aboriginal people
• Children and teenagers required to take Aspirin® or ASA for long periods of time due to a medical condition
• Children and adults with certain medical conditions, including:
  • Heart or lung disorders that require regular medical care, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or cystic fibrosis
  • Kidney disease, chronic liver disease such as hepatitis, diabetes, cancer, anemia, or weakened immune system
  • Those with health conditions causing difficulty breathing, swallowing, or a risk of choking on food or fluids, such as people with severe brain damage, spinal cord injury, seizures or neuromuscular disorders
  • Those who are very obese

• Household contacts of people at high risk
• Household contacts, caregivers and daycare staff of children under 5 years of age
• Doctors, nurses and others working in health care settings who have contact with patients
• Visitors to health care facilities and other patient care locations
• People who live or work in confined settings, such as correctional facilities
• Those who provide care or service to people at high risk in potential outbreak settings such as cruise ships

• People who provide essential community services such as police officers, firefighters and ambulance attendants
• Farmers and other people who work with live poultry