Health Ministry “Drive Through” Flu Vaccines

The Ministry of Health announced that Flu Vaccine will be available from the Department of Health beginning in November.

The influenza vaccine will be available from Monday, November 1st at Hamilton Health Centre, Monday to Friday, 8.30 – 11.30 am, and in addition there will be “drive through” locations. The cost of the vaccine is $10.00 and free for persons over the age of 65 years.

The Ministry says the “Flu Express is encouraged for adults and seniors that can travel by car”. This is a drive through location. The convenient Flu Express times and sites are as follows:

Senior Medical Officer, Dr. Cheryl Peek-Ball noted today that the Flu season is upon us and reminds all residents that seasonal influenza vaccination is important to reduce the risk of serious, complicating illness, as well as absence from school and work.

Influenza is a highly contagious viral infection which spreads from person to person via infected droplets from coughs and sneeze. For most people it is not generally a serious condition but is often very unpleasant and temporarily debilitating. For some, however, flu can be quite dangerous, even life-threatening, because it may increase the risk of developing serious complications such as pneumonia or respiratory failure.

Symptoms of flu develop two to four days after exposure and may remain mild. However, serious attacks may cause sudden onset of sore throat, and runny nose with high fever, headache, backache, muscle pains fatigue and general malaise.

Flu vaccine is safe and highly effective in preventing most cases of flu. Side effects are rare and usually mild. It is also important to reassure the public that none of the ingredients in the flu vaccine can cause influenza. The flu vaccines currently available have been designed to provide protection against the strains of virus in circulation at the present time. The chance of contacting flu and other upper respiratory infections can also be reduced by frequent and thorough hand washing, ‘covering’ coughs and sneezes and avoiding crowded places.

Previously, Flu vaccine was recommended for people most at risk of complications of flu. However, this year the expert advice has been that it is offered to all members of the public who would like the protection. Special encouragement to have the vaccine is given to the priority groups for whom complications of flu are more likely:

• * Healthy children under age 5
• * Elderly people over the age of 65 years
• * Elderly residents of Rest Homes
• * People of any age (ie, infants from six months to senior citizens) with chronic health problems such as heart or lung conditions, asthma, kidney disease, sickle cell anaemia, immune system diseases etc., which require regular medical care.
• * Young people 6 months to 18 years on aspirin therapy for other medical conditions
• * Pregnant women who are in their second or third trimester during flu season

Other high priority populations for whom flu vaccine is strongly encouraged are:

• * Essential public service workers (teachers, police and fire officers, prison and customs officers etc.)
• * Health care providers, care givers and close contacts of family members with chronic health problems.
• * Travellers
• * Individuals living in dormitories and crowded conditions

Individuals under physician care for chronic health problems and children under the age of two years are asked to obtain a prescription from their physician and present it to the clinic staff. The influenza vaccine can be obtained from most private physicians’ offices.

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