Winter, like every year, means flu season is near.
From Oct. 17 to Nov. 7, the college will be holding a flu shot clinic in the cave. The clinic will be open between 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
The flu shot covers three virus strains this year, H1N1, H3N2, and the Victoria Lineage.
Alberta Health Services reports, “it is estimated that influenza causes about 20,000 hospitalizations and 4,000 to 8,000 deaths in Canada each year.”
The clinic has seen a great turn- out so far, “nearly 500 people in the first three days,” says nurse Mary Coles.
The health service clinic has seen a few cases of what seems to be the flu, and Mary Coles believes this year will be a rough flu season.
“There is something changing with the weather,” she says.
Since the warm weather has lasted longer she believes there will be more people sick than in the years before.
The students that she has seen in the clinic have been “not only a little sick but very, very sick.”
Signs of the flu include fever, cough, headache and muscle aches. You can prevent getting the flu by washing your hands, covering your mouth and nose, and staying at home to rest when feeling ill.
Getting the flu shot is the most effective way to prevent getting sick.
Children as young as six months may get the shot, and it’s important to get if you are pregnant, severely obese, elderly, or a person with chronic health conditions.
Allergic reactions to the shot is rare. Normal side effects include redness, mild pain or swelling, irritability or tiredness, headache, muscle aches and pains, fever and chills.
It’s suggested not to take Advil or an Ibuprofen after getting the needle, but instead take Tylenol or Aspirin. If muscle pain is great, apply an ice pack to sooth the pain.
Alberta health services says, “influenza immunization prevents disease in 70 to 90 per cent of healthy individuals,” and “it prevents death in 85 per cent of the frail and elderly.”
The flu shot will be in full effect two weeks after and will last less then a year. It’s possible to get sick with other strains of influenza but symptoms may become milder with the immunization.