A Reminder to Roll Up Your Sleeves

By Dr. David Butler-Jones,
Chief Public Health Officer of Canada

This year up to a quarter of Canadians will catch the flu, also known as influenza, so now is a good time to think about some simple things you can do to protect yourself and others, including rolling up your sleeves for your annual flu shot.

As anyone who has had the flu knows, it is a miserable experience. Symptoms can include a high fever, cough, head and muscle aches for three or four days and fatigue that can drag on for weeks. More than just an inconvenience, having the flu can have severe, even deadly, consequences for some people. Most don’t realize that between 4000 and 8000 Canadians die every year from complications from the flu, which can include bronchitis, pneumonia, kidney failure and heart failure. Those with chronic conditions like asthma, diabetes or heart disease are more vulnerable, as are young children, the elderly, pregnant women, and people in nursing homes and hospitals.

There are a few simple things you can do to help avoid catching and spreading the flu. While you can never be completely immune, it helps to stay healthy, eat well, and keep active. To avoid spreading the flu, if you’re sick, stay home, and if you have to sneeze, sneeze into your sleeve rather than your hands. One of the best things you can do to avoid infection in the first place is also one of the most basic: wash your hands often and thoroughly.

But perhaps the most effective defence we have against the flu is the annual flu shot. Some people refuse to get one, mistakenly believing the vaccine can actually give you the flu. It’s a popular myth, but it’s just not possible. There are no live viruses used in the flu vaccine.  It’s also important to get immunized annually because flu viruses change and evolve from one year to the next. Every year the vaccine is tailored to protect against what are projected to be the most common flu viruses. Canada’s flu season runs from November to April and it takes about two weeks to get the full protection of the vaccination, so it’s best to get your shot early in the season. Late is better than never though, and getting immunized as late as January or February can still provide protection. If you’re bringing a child under the age of nine to get a flu shot, keep in mind a double dose is recommended if it’s her or his first time.

So take care of yourself and those you love by taking these preventive steps. Just as you get your vehicle ready for winter to avoid potential problems, steer clear of influenza season by getting your annual influenza immunization. To find out more, visit: www.fightflu.ca.

Dr. David Butler-Jones is Canada’s first Chief Public Health Officer and heads the Public Health Agency of Canada.