Flu season is nearly here, meaning it’s time for Airdrie residents to roll up their sleeves to prevent severe illness this coming winter.
“The provincial flu shot program started (Oct. 17),” explained Airdrie-based pharmacist Jason Kmet, owner of Polaris Travel Clinic and Pharmacy. “It is a good preventative health measure.”
Kmet acknowledged the flu has been overshadowed by COVID-19 in the last few years, but stressed the flu is still out there and the vaccination for it is an effective way of decreasing your chance of not only contracting the flu, but reducing the severity.
“Getting a flu shot does decrease your risk of illness,” he said.
The pharmacist reminded residents the flu shot is free for all residents six-months or older as long as they have an Alberta health card, and it is important to get a booster every year.
“Influenza, or the flu, is a virus, and there are many different variations and sub-types of the virus,” explained Kmet. “That is one of the reasons why we need to have the adjusting flu shot every year – because the variants that are travelling around the world do change over time.”
Symptoms of influenza infection include fatigue, fever, aches, headaches and a persistent or nagging cough. For a lot of people, the flu might mean a few days off work, and a few unpleasant days of feeling sick, Kmet added.
“But certainly for some people who are older and already have other issues, the flu can be more serious,” he said. “We know every year there are people that will die as a result of the flu infection.
“Getting the flu shot [is a way] to reduce your chance of becoming sick, or passing it onto other people.”
According to Alberta government data, 90 cases of this year’s seasonal influenza were reported to Alberta Health Services as of Oct. 15, with just over one-third of those cases in the Calgary zone. No deaths had been confirmed from the flu in Alberta as of that date, but 15 hospitalizations and four intensive care unit admissions had been reported.
As in every year, Kmet found the first week of this year’s flu booster shot offerings was a busy time at his clinic, as past recipients came back for their annual top-ups.
“We always find in the first week, there is a lot of uptake from people who get the shot every year,” he said. “I think our first week numbers are comparable to last year, but in general, there is more awareness of flu shots because of everything that has been going on with COVID.”
While the flu and COVID share several symptoms, influenza is a completely different virus strain, Kmet reminded readers, and the flu shot has long been established as a great preventative defense against the disease.
Addressing a common misconception, he pointed out you definitely cannot get the flu from the flu shot.
“If you get a flu shot, it typically takes a couple of weeks to kick in,” he explained. “And if you get exposed to the flu that same day at the grocery store, or whatever, the shot won’t kick-in in time to help you.”
Kmet said those wanting to book a flu shot at his clinic can go onto the Polaris Travel Clinic and Pharmacy website at polaristravelclinic.ca or call the pharmacy directly at 403-980-8747. Walk-ins are also available, but spots are limited.
“We do walk-ins,” confirmed Kmet, “but the only thing about a walk-in is if we have appointments, we do the appointment people first. But usually you don’t have to wait too long for a walk-in.”
