It's that time again: flu shot season.
Influenza, normally called the flu for short, is caused by a virus that affects the nose, throat and lungs.
Apart from its own annoying symptoms that include fever, chills and sweats, a persistent cough, fatigue, sore throat and general overall weakness, the flu makes it harder for your body to fight other infections.
It's also contagious (easily passed from one person to another).
That could result in pneumonia, and even death — especially in the elderly, very young children (six to 59 months old), pregnant women, Indigenous people, and people with chronic medical conditions.
Vaccines are derived from dead flu viruses or one gene from that virus. An injection of the vaccine thus spurs your body to create antibodies to protect you from the disease.
As of yesterday (Monday, Oct. 21) people age five and up are able to receive the flu vaccine at local pharmacies. Those six months of age and older can receive the vaccine at public health clinics and doctors' offices.
There's good reason to do so. Health officials fear we could have quite the onslaught of flu this winter season.
That's because this past June, the Australian government said 31,220 people were diagnosed with the flu in that country. In June 2018, only 1,984 were diagnosed with it.
Countries such as Australia experience their winter when we have our spring and summer, so that gives health-care officials in this hemisphere an idea of what to expect. And I for one, would rather be safe than sorry, so I got my flu shot — not only to safeguard my health, but also to avoid passing the flu on to others.
Reports say last season in Alberta, at least 52 people died from the flu and nearly 2,000 were hospitalized in connection with it.
Why should we get vaccinated every year?
Because the flu virus continually changes. Different strains come into being throughout the year.
Do yourself, your family, friends, relatives and co-workers a favour -- get vaccinated.
