It’s flu season once again and area residents are rolling up their sleeves at local clinics.

The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit has already given 55,000 vaccinations and clinics are just getting stared.

The health unit’s Mary Bouffard, supervisor for the Universal Influenza Immunization Program, said while it’s important for people in certain age groups, like those 65 and older, to get the shot, and encourages anyone over six months old to protect themselves.

“It’s also important for those capable of transmitting influenza to those at risk,” she said. “So you may not be a high risk yourself, however you may visit a family member in a nursing home. Without the shot, you are capable of acting as a transmission tool.”

Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is a respiratory infection caused by the influenza virus.

It is estimated that between 10 and 25 per cent of Canadians may get the flu, and between 4,000 and 8,000 Canadians, mostly seniors, die from flu-related pneumonia or serious complications of the virus each year.

The flu is spread through droplets that were coughed or sneezed into the air by someone who has the virus. It can also be found on the hands of people with the flu and anything they have touched.

Symptoms of the flu include headache, chills and a cough, followed by fever, loss of appetite, a runny nose, sneezing, watery eyes, throat irritation, muscle aches and fatigue.

In Canada, approximately 10 million doses of the vaccine are distributed each year during flu season.

The flu vaccine is made up of actual fragments of inactivated influenza viruses. These viruses are grown on fertilized hen’s eggs and then purified. When a person gets a flu shot, their immune system produces antibodies against the strains of the virus in the vaccine.

Bouffard said, despite rumors to the contrary, a person can’t get the flu from the vaccine itself.

“It takes about two weeks to build up the immunity to the virus so if I gave you the needle today and, three days from now you got sick, it is likely that there was something brewing in you prior to getting the shot.”

Once the antibodies are built up they will help prevent infection when a person is exposed to the virus.

Bouffard said, while there has been a big media push in recent years for people to get the flu shot, the number of people actually getting immunized has remained the same.

“In Simcoe Muskoka, we have not gotten any higher than the provincial average. We have not gotten any higher than 40 per cent,” she said. “We have noticed a slight increase in health adults, but in terms of the overall population there hasn’t been any change.”

Bouffard adds, while the shot does not guarantee you won’t get the flu, it will lessen the blow if by chance you do get the virus.

“You can stop the spread of illness by hand washing regularly, staying home when we are sick, eating healthy, staying physically active, and getting plenty of rest,” she said. “The flu shot is just part of what we need to do to keep healthy.”


Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit clinics:

Nov. 19-Kozlov Centre. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Nov. 22-Angus Arena. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Nov. 26-Zehrs Big Bay Point Rd. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Nov. 29- Kozlov Centre. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Dec. 3- Zehrs Bayfield St. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Dec. 6- Bayfield Mall. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Dec. 13-Barrie Native Friendship Centre. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.