To raise awareness of the importance of being protected against the influenza virus, Minister Ottenbreit and his family received their influenza immunization together with many other families at a Sunrise Health Region immunization clinic held on November 7 at the Family Resource Centre in Yorkton. This was the second year that the well attended clinic took place at the Family Resource Centre.
“Thank you to the public health staff here at the Family Resource Centre and all across the province for their excellent work helping to keep our residents healthy,” says Minister Ottenbreit.
The flu vaccine is a safe, effective way for people to protect themselves and those close to them during the flu season. By immunizing the whole family, the chance of exposure to influenza is reduced for more vulnerable members of the family.
“When my son, Brayden, was in treatment for cancer and his immune system was weakened, his physician recommended that our whole family get the influenza immunization to protect him from exposure to influenza,” added Ottenbreit. “Every day with our children and grandchildren is precious and so we do whatever we can to protect them, which is why our family chooses to immunize each year.”
In the first two weeks of this year’s influenza immunization program, over 127,000 people in Saskatchewan have received the influenza vaccine. Over 100,000 of those were provided by public health nurses and physicians, and approximately 25,000 by pharmacists.
In addition to the vaccine injection, a nasal spray called FluMist is now available in the region for children and youth ages 2-17. A listing of influenza immunization clinics can be found on the region website www.sunrisehealthregion.sk.ca and by dialing Healthline at 811. Daily clinic locations are also posted on the “Sunrise Health Region” Facebook page and on Twitter @SunriseRegion.
