Even in the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it’s important that residents don’t forget about flu season.
A flu vaccine clinic was held at Rainbow Hall in Canora on November 2. Clients who come in to be vaccinated are pre-screened for COVID-19 symptoms, asked to perform hand hygiene, and wear masks, which are available at the clinics. They have the opportunity to get both a flu and COVID shot at the same time if they so choose.
SHA (Saskatchewan Health Authority) clinics will be offering both flu and COVID-19 immunizations. COVID-19 vaccination, including boosters, will be available at most SHA public flu clinics to anyone eligible to receive it. Patients looking for both a flu and COVID-19 vaccine only require a single appointment in the booking system. Health providers are trained to offer both vaccines to those eligible in the same appointment time.
“It is completely safe to receive both your flu and your COVID-19 vaccine at the same time,” noted Dr. Tania Diener, COVID-19 Immunization Co-Chief, Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) for the Saskatchewan Health Authority in a release. “Previously, we had avoided delivering COVID-19 vaccines to anyone who received another recent vaccination. However, since that time, evidence has shown that it is safe to receive your COVID-19 vaccine alongside another shot.”
All Health Canada-approved COVID-19 vaccines can now be given at the same time as other vaccines. There’s no wait-time required before or after you receive your COVID-19 vaccine, and no additional safety risks or adverse events have been identified by the flu and COVID-19 vaccine being given at the same time.
“If you have not received your COVID-19 vaccine, now is the time to get it, and get a flu vaccine at the same time,” Diener noted. “It is very important to get your flu shot to protect yourself and those around you from the Influenza virus, especially as COVID-19 is circulating at the same time. And it is very important for you to receive your COVID-19 vaccine, to protect you from that disease. Influenza vaccination does not protect you against COVID and COVID vaccination does not protect you against Influenza.”
The SHA (Saskatchewan Health Authority) reminds residents of the importance of flu vaccination through its website at saskhealthauthority.ca.
Information from the website states that influenza is caused by a virus that spreads easily through coughing, sneezing and direct contact with nose and throat secretions. It can result in hospitalization and death, especially in very young children, the elderly and those who have underlying health conditions.
Symptoms include sudden onset: of fever, cough, chills, muscle aches, a headache and a runny nose. Infected people can spread the virus to others before they show any symptoms.
A person cannot get influenza from the influenza vaccine. (‘the flu shot’)
Other important points to remember include:
- Get immunized every year to protect yourself and those around you.
- Stay home when you feel sick.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water.
- Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer gel to clean your hands if soap and water are unavailable.
- Cough and sneeze into your sleeve or a tissue (throw tissue away after use and wash your hands).
- Clean and disinfect all surfaces regularly.
Everyone six months of age and older can get a flu shot.
Residents are reminded that allergy to eggs is not a reason for not receiving an influenza vaccination. Influenza vaccination should not be delayed because of minor or moderate acute illness, with or without fever.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, individuals with any symptoms of acute respiratory infection, including minor symptoms such as sore throat or runny nose, should delay influenza vaccination until they have recovered if being immunized in a community setting. Patients in acute care can be immunized regardless.
Babies younger than 6 months old cannot get the vaccine, as well as:
- People who had a life-threatening reaction to a previous dose of any influenza vaccine, or any components of the vaccine; and
- People who developed a neurological disorder called Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) within six weeks of a previous influenza immunization.
Vaccines are very safe. It is much safer to get the vaccine than to get influenza illness.
Common reactions to the vaccine include: temporary soreness, warmth, redness and swelling at the injection site and/or limited movement of the immunized arm or leg; and headache, muscle aches, fever, chills, fatigue, joint pain, irritability, sweating, loss of appetite and swollen lymph glands around the jaw and neck.
It is important to stay in the clinic for 15 minutes after getting any vaccine because there is an extremely rare possibility of a life-threatening allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. This may include hives, difficulty breathing, or swelling of the throat, tongue or lips. If this happens after
Even in the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it’s important that residents don’t forget about flu season.
A flu vaccine clinic was held at Rainbow Hall in Canora on November 2. Clients who come in to be vaccinated are pre-screened for COVID-19 symptoms, asked to perform hand hygiene, and wear masks, which are available at the clinics. They have the opportunity to get both a flu and COVID shot at the same time if they so choose.
SHA (Saskatchewan Health Authority) clinics will be offering both flu and COVID-19 immunizations. COVID-19 vaccination, including boosters, will be available at most SHA public flu clinics to anyone eligible to receive it. Patients looking for both a flu and COVID-19 vaccine only require a single appointment in the booking system. Health providers are trained to offer both vaccines to those eligible in the same appointment time.
“It is completely safe to receive both your flu and your COVID-19 vaccine at the same time,” noted Dr. Tania Diener, COVID-19 Immunization Co-Chief, Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) for the Saskatchewan Health Authority in a release. “Previously, we had avoided delivering COVID-19 vaccines to anyone who received another recent vaccination. However, since that time, evidence has shown that it is safe to receive your COVID-19 vaccine alongside another shot.”
All Health Canada-approved COVID-19 vaccines can now be given at the same time as other vaccines. There’s no wait-time required before or after you receive your COVID-19 vaccine, and no additional safety risks or adverse events have been identified by the flu and COVID-19 vaccine being given at the same time.
“If you have not received your COVID-19 vaccine, now is the time to get it, and get a flu vaccine at the same time,” Diener noted. “It is very important to get your flu shot to protect yourself and those around you from the Influenza virus, especially as COVID-19 is circulating at the same time. And it is very important for you to receive your COVID-19 vaccine, to protect you from that disease. Influenza vaccination does not protect you against COVID and COVID vaccination does not protect you against Influenza.”
The SHA (Saskatchewan Health Authority) reminds residents of the importance of flu vaccination through its website at saskhealthauthority.ca.
Information from the website states that influenza is caused by a virus that spreads easily
through coughing, sneezing and direct contact with nose and throat secretions. It can result in hospitalization and death, especially in very young children, the elderly and those who have
underlying health conditions.
Symptoms include sudden onset: of fever, cough, chills, muscle aches, a headache and a runny nose. Infected people can spread the virus to others before they show any symptoms.
A person cannot get influenza from the influenza vaccine. (‘the flu shot’)
Other important points to remember include:
- Get immunized every year to protect yourself and those around you.
- Stay home when you feel sick.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water.
- Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer gel to clean your hands if soap and water are unavailable.
- Cough and sneeze into your sleeve or a tissue (throw tissue away after use and wash your hands).
- Clean and disinfect all surfaces regularly.
Everyone six months of age and older can get a flu shot.
Residents are reminded that allergy to eggs is not a reason for not receiving an influenza vaccination. Influenza vaccination should not be delayed because of minor or moderate acute illness, with or without fever.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, individuals with any symptoms of acute respiratory infection, including minor symptoms such as sore throat or runny nose, should delay influenza vaccination until they have recovered if being immunized in a community setting. Patients in acute care can be immunized regardless.
Babies younger than 6 months old cannot get the vaccine, as well as:
- People who had a life-threatening reaction to a previous dose of any influenza vaccine, or any components of the vaccine; and
- People who developed a neurological disorder called Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) within six weeks of a previous influenza immunization.
Vaccines are very safe. It is much safer to get the vaccine than to get influenza illness.
Common reactions to the vaccine include: temporary soreness, warmth, redness and swelling at the injection site and/or limited movement of the immunized arm or leg; and headache, muscle aches, fever, chills, fatigue, joint pain, irritability, sweating, loss of appetite and swollen lymph glands around the jaw and neck.
It is important to stay in the clinic for 15 minutes after getting any vaccine because there is an extremely rare possibility of a life-threatening allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. This may include hives, difficulty breathing, or swelling of the throat, tongue or lips. If this happens after
you leave the clinic, call 911 or the local emergency number. This reaction can be treated, and occurs in less than one in one million people who get the vaccine.
For more information contact HealthLine online or by calling 811, your local public health office, your physician, a pharmacist, or nurse practitioner, concluded the website information.
you leave the clinic, call 911 or the local emergency number. This reaction can be treated, and occurs in less than one in one million people who get the vaccine.
For more information contact HealthLine online or by calling 811, your local public health office, your physician, a pharmacist, or nurse practitioner, concluded the website information.
