"Roll up Your Sleeve... It's Just a Little Prick!"

Chavy Dworkind

Published Wednesday, October 14, 2020

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As we all await the much anticipated coronavirus vaccine, you might be wondering:

• Why should I get a flu vaccine?

• Where can I get vaccinated?

• When do I get vaccinated?

• Who should be vaccinated?

• Who should not be vaccinated?

• How do vaccines work?

Read on to find out.

Why Should I Get a Flu Vaccination This Year?

Creator: Paul Chiasson I Credit: The Canadian Press

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Many healthcare facilities suffered tremendously during the first wave of the pandemic. To prevent a healthcare system overwhelm, the WHO and the CDC are encouraging people to get vaccinated against the flu.

Let’s do our part to support our healthcare facilities and the heroic frontline workers during the second wave by getting the flu vaccine.

Where Can I Get Vaccinated?

To find out where you can go to get your flu vaccine, and whether you qualify for the free government program, click on this link. Individuals who don't qualify for the free government program can make a vaccination appointment at the following Pharmacies.

Pharmaprix

Jean Coutu

Proxim

Brunet

Uniprix

When Do I Get Vaccinated?

Now’s the time!

The optimal time to get the flu shot is in early fall. It takes about two weeks for the body to produce antibodies after inoculation. The CDC recommends that individuals are vaccinated for the flu by the end of October. Conversely, it's not recommended to get the flu vaccine too early, because that appears to provide weaker protection against the flu.

Who Should Be Vaccinated?

• People as young as 6 months can receive inactivated influenza vaccines

• Individuals with certain chronic health issues

• Pregnant women

• Individuals 18+ years can receive the recombinant influenza vaccine

• Individuals 65+ years can receive the adjuvanted and high-dose inactivated vaccines

Who Should Not Be Vaccinated?

• Children under 6 months

• Individuals with severe allergies to any components of the flu vaccine

How Do Vaccines Work?

Vaccines are carefully formulated by scientists with the goal of providing an effective means of protection against a disease, virus or infection.

*Fun Bio II throwback:

Vaccination is the introduction of pathogens into an organism. The pathogens are attenuated or modified so that they are incapable of causing the organism to contract the disease. The vaccine causes immunization of the organism when the antigenic materials trigger an immune response involving the production of antibodies for the specific antigen. The ultimate goal and expectation is that the organism will not contract the disease, virus or infection that the vaccine protects against, because the organism had a chance to learn how to fight said disease, virus or infection.

Conclusion

This season it is more important than ever to get your annual seasonal influenza vaccine. Let’s do what we can to stay as healthy as possible during this difficult time and to prevent an unnecessary influx of flu patients in our already overwhelmed healthcare facilities.

On a lighter note, have fun watching Canadian comedian Rick Mercer's flu shot rant (Nov. 2012).

Did you get your flu shot yet?

MEDICAL DISCLAIMER: The information in this post does not replace that of a medical professional. Speak to your doctor if you have questions about the flu vaccine.