Influenza has arrived. The most effective way to protect yourself is to get your FLU SHOT – and it’s not too late to get one! Other steps you can take to protect yourself include: washing your hands regularly, avoiding touching your eyes, nose or mouth and maintaining good health habits such as getting plenty of sleep and managing your stress.

Those at high risk

Medical Health Officers are encouraging everyone who is not already protected against influenza, including VCH staff, to be vaccinated as soon as possible. This year the circulating strain is the same H1N1 strain that caused the 2009 flu pandemic and those who are not vaccinated are at risk of being infected. H1N1 disproportionately affects children (especially those under 5 years) and adultsaged 18 to 64 with underlying health conditions. The good news is that this year’s flu shot is effective against H1N1.

Staff who are pregnant or those with underlying health conditions are strongly encouraged to get vaccinated due to the rise in H1N1 serious cases in younger people More information on this topic is available on this week’s executive blog post: Get the flu vaccine – for yourself 

Remember, the flu shot will also help to protect your loved ones and patients/clients/residents and help stop the spread of influenza.

More vaccination options

You can receive your flu shot at your physician’s office, local pharmacy, walk-in clinic, Employee Field Service Clinic, VCH Public Health units, the VCH Travel Clinic, or from a peer nurse immunizer – but please call in advance to ensure they still have some flu vaccine in stock. Check our VCH flu locator to find a location near you: http://flushotschedule.ca/

A reminder that if you are not vaccinated you are required to wear a mask while in a ‘patient care area’ for the duration of flu season (typically until the end of March).

Recent flu activity

Though overall flu rates are much the same as last year, there has been a sharp increase in reported influenza cases in BC in the last week, with several adults, almost all with underlying illnesses, admitted to ICU’s in the Lower Mainland and on the island. H1N1 (the pandemic strain) predominates.

The number of people in the Lower Mainland who have gone to their doctor for an influenza like illness has also doubled in the last two weeks from weeks prior.

Now is also a good time to remind others to get their flu shot (if they haven’t already) and wash their hands frequently to help prevent picking up influenza!

Questions?

If you have any questions, please email VCHHCWFluPrevention@vch.ca.