Osoyoos Times Editor Richard McGuire gets his annual flu shot with Steven Hopp, owner-pharmacist at Shoppers Drug Mart administering the jab.

The days are getting shorter and the temperature is cooling, which means another flu season is upon us.

Both Pharmasave and Shopper’s Drug Mart have already begun offering the flu shot.

This year, individuals who choose to go to either Shopper’s Drug Mart or Pharmasave for their flu shot must first make an appointment.

Shopper’s Drug Mart owner and Pharmacist Steven Hopp said the reason for the change is “because otherwise it’s just not manageable,” due to the high number of people who come in for the vaccine while pharmacists are dealing with other customers at the same time.

By administering the flu shot by appointment, the pharmacists are able to “manage our workflow more effectively,” said Hopp.

“For people’s convenience, we like to find a time that’s suitable,” said Pharmacist Jolly Gill, Pharmasave’s co-owner. She points out that there are “lots of flu vaccinations available – no rush.”

Canada’s National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) recommends the flu vaccine for everyone over the age of six unless there is an existing condition that might cause complications.

“Why wouldn’t you get the flu shot?” said Hopp. “I get mine every year.”

Hopp said that there are some misconceptions about the safety of the flu vaccine but that “any concerns are outweighed by the benefits.”

There are many different strains of the flu virus and each year the government makes an educated guess as to which three strains of flu to develop a vaccine for.

Gill said the amount of protection is about 70 per cent. “It’s not 100 per cent,” she said, “but seven out of 10 is better than zero.”

The vaccine is free for residents over the age of 65. It is also free for children between six months and five years old, Aboriginal people, pregnant women and anyone who has a chronic health condition, such as diabetes, or a compromised immune or respiratory system.

Caregivers, or anyone residing with those who have a higher risk of complications from the flu, are also eligible to receive the vaccine free of charge.

For everyone else, the cost is $23 at Shopper’s Drug Mart and $25 at Pharmasave.

Influenza is a contagious respiratory infection that can cause severe symptoms in some and can lead to hospitalization and sometimes death.

According to the 2018-2019 Canadian Immunization Guide’s Chapter on influenza, published by NACI, “influenza and pneumonia is ranked among the top 10 leading causes of death in Canada.”

Symptoms of the flu can be fever, body aches, headache, dry cough, and a sore or dry throat.

Neither Hopp nor Gill anticipates that there will be a vaccine shortage this year.

“Definitely most years there have been brief outages,” said Hopp, but he is not anticipating a shortage “in the near future.”

Gill said that in previous years the supply “has been intermittent,” but that this year there is “definitely enough.”

The influenza vaccine protects against viruses that cause influenza and getting vaccinated not only protects you, but also protects those around you, like the elderly and children, who might have a weakened immune system and are therefore at a greater risk to develop the flu.

According to Statistics Canada, while influenza vaccination rates among the general population have gone up in British Columbia since 2003, rates among seniors decreased.

It stated: “Seniors (aged 65 and over) are a group identified by the NACI as being at risk of health complications from the flu. In response, the NACI set a national target where 80 per cent of seniors should be vaccinated.”

“It takes a week or two for full immunity to develop,” said Hopp, so getting the flu shot as soon as possible is advised.

MICHELE WEISZ

Osoyoos Times