The flu shot: It’s not about you

When Bob Chapman, director of Residential Care and Assisted Living in Vancouver, gets the flu shot next week, he’s not doing it protect himself, he’s doing it protect those he cares for.

“It’s not necessarily only about your own health – it’s about not passing it on to residents and others,” says Bob. “I believe it’s my responsibility to get vaccinated – it’s all of our responsibility. I want to protect those who are a bit vulnerable.”

Bob says flu season is a busier time for them.

“Flu season can definitely make the work we do a little more complicated,” he says, “there are a lot of residents and staff to vaccinate and it’s complicated especially when there are outbreaks, putting pressure on the system.”

What many people don’t know is that most healthy adults can infect others a day before they develop symptoms and up to seven days after getting sick. That means that you could pass on the flu to other people before you even know you are sick. You can be infected with the flu virus but have no symptoms.

With four residential care facilities and close to 600 residents under his department’s care, Bob says it’s a no-brainer to get the shot. Hospitalized patients and seniors in residential care are more vulnerable to influenza than healthy adults. The vaccine is also less effective for frail seniors or other hospitalized patients, making it even more important that their caregivers are vaccinated.

“A majority of our residents are elderly and the younger ones can have a range of complex conditions, making them vulnerable as well,” he says. “We don’t want them getting sick. Our staff know how important it is and get the shot.”