The Sun Country Health Region’s (SCHR) public health team is encouraging the public to get their annual influenza shot to protect themselves and their loved ones from the flu.
All individuals six months of age and older are eligible to receive the influenza vaccine.
Influenza immunization clinics in the SCHR will begin Oct. 19. The nasal spray vaccine, called FluMist, is an option for children between the ages of six months and 17 years, and will be available around mid-November.
The publicly-funded vaccine will be available through public health clinics, physicians, nurse practitioners and participating pharmacists across the region.
Early indications are there will be a good match between the vaccine and flu strains that are likely to come this winter.
Dr. Ross Findlater, medical health officer for the health region, is recommending the flu shot for people at high risk of influenza and influenza-related complications, including hospitalization.
High-risk groups for influenza include people with chronic health conditions, such as lung and/or heart disease, asthma, cancer, kidney disease and others; people 65 years of age and older; residents of nursing homes or other long-term care facilities; people with severe obesity; children under five years of age; children on long term aspirin therapy; and pregnant women.
Findlater also recommends the flu vaccine for people who are in close contact with individuals at increased risk for serious disease, and encourages all health-care professionals to be immunized to protect themselves and their patients from influenza.
People who will be in contact with high-risk individuals include members of households expecting a baby; members of households with a baby less than six years of age; household members and close contacts of persons who are at risk of getting seriously ill with influenza; health-care workers, health science students, and volunteers working in health-care settings; individuals providing regular child care to children younger than five years old; and people who work with poultry or hogs.
The first clinic slated for Estevan will be on Oct. 19 at 9 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Hospital’s Auditorium No. 2. Three clinics are slated for the following day: Trinity Tower at 9 a.m., Valley View Heritage at 11 a.m. and Creighton Lodge at 1 p.m.
The hospital’s auditorium will host another clinic on Oct. 21 at 9 a.m., and then three more are scheduled for Oct. 22: Inglis Court at 9 a.m., Sussex Arms at 11 a.m. and Midtown Manor at 1:30 p.m.
A weekend clinic will happen at the hospital on Oct. 24 at 10 a.m.
Yardley Place will host a clinic on Oct. 26 at 9 a.m.
The remaining clinics for Estevan will be at the hospital: Oct. 28 at 9 a.m.; Nov. 3 and 9 at noon; Nov. 21 at 10 a.m.; and Nov. 30 and Dec. 15 at 3 p.m.
Rural communities will also host clinics. Bienfait will have one on Nov. 4 at 11 a.m. at the town’s library. The Prairie Lily Club in Lampman will have clinics on Oct. 20 at 1:30 p.m. and Oct. 29 at 1 p.m.
Mainprize Manor in Midale will have a clinic on Nov. 5 at 10 a.m, and the Oungre Memorial Regional Park will be the site of a clinic on Nov. 3 at 10 a.m.
In addition to getting a flu shot, the spread of influenza can be limited through infection prevention methods such as frequent hand washing, coughing and sneezing into the sleeve, cleaning surfaces often, and staying at home when ill.
