Flu shot season starts
By Chris Simon

Photo by Chris Simon The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit. will be hosting several flu shot clinics throughout the region within the next month. In total, over 120 clinics will take place, including 19 at various South Simcoe sites.

It's time to roll up a sleeve and take a shot in the arm.

The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit is hosting over 120 flu shot clinics throughout the region over the next month, including 19 in the South Simcoe area. This year's shot gives residents 70 to 90 per cent protection against three strains of the virus - A Solomon Islands, A Wisconsin and B Malaysia - the most commonly spread strains found by prominent groups like the World Health Organization and the Centre for Disease Control last year.

During flu season, about 15 per cent of the population generally gets the virus.

Registered nurse Donna McCarthy says residents need the shot, to protect themselves and others in the community from the effects the flu can cause. Those symptoms can range from body aches and high temperatures to more severe complications, often forcing sufferers to stay in bed for days while they recover.

"The flu's a lot different than a regular cold. With a cold, you can sort of function. You'll have a fever and general malaise. With the flu, you'll generally be in bed for (several) days," she said. "(The shot is) basically the only thing that's out there to prevent it.

"There's really nothing else out there. You don't want to be passing (the flu) on to others," she said. "You're not sure what their health problems are, and they may be more prone to complications.

"You get it as a protection for yourself and the other people in your community."

Young children, seniors, emergency workers and people with heart and other medical problems are at the highest risk of getting the virus. While emergency workers should have already received the shot, the other at risk groups are being specifically targeted by the clinic initiative, said McCarthy.

The flu shot may also give some protection against similar virus strains.

"If there are other (strains) that come up, because there's always more than three running around, they feel you'll have some protection," said McCarthy.

Photo by Chris Simon Lindsay Puckering, left, a public health nurse, receives a flu shot from registered nurse Donna McCarthy at the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit office Cookstown Monday morning. The health unit has 19 local flu shot clinics planned.

The health unit has specifically set up the clinics in busy areas at convenient times, she said.

"We try to target the people who we expect to attend and make it convenient for them," said McCarthy. "We take into consideration who our clients are."

For more information, and a list of flu shot clinics throughout the region, visit ww.simcoemuskokahealth. org.