Influenza Expected to Arrive Soon. Flu Shots Will be Available Across Perth County

Influenza Expected to Arrive Soon. Flu Shots Will be Available Across Perth County

Thursday, October 12th, 2017

Perth County – Influenza is expected to arrive soon in Perth County and the Health Unit is encouraging residents at high risk of complications to get their flu shots. Typically, influenza season in Canada runs from November to April. The flu shot is the best way people over six months of age can protect themselves and their families from getting sick with influenza.

Flu Shot Availability

Currently, the flu shot is available for those at high risk of complications from influenza, at the following locations:

• Family doctor’s offices: ages six months and over
• Pharmacies: five years of age and older (call first to confirm)
• Perth District Health Unit: ages six months to less than five years and their families who do not have a family doctor; call for an appointment.

People at higher risk of influenza complications include:

• Children aged six months to less than five years of age
• People aged 65 and older
• Children and adults with chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, cancer
• Residents of long-term care and retirement homes, or other chronic care facilities
• Pregnant women
• Indigenous people.

Health care workers, household contacts of a person in a high-risk group, and people who provide care to children under five years of age, are also urged to get a flu shot as soon as possible.

For all others, the flu shot will be available starting in late October through:

• Family doctor’s offices – ages six months and over
• Pharmacies across Perth County – five years of age and older
• Clinics by appointment only at the Perth District Health Unit in Stratford and Listowel – for children under five and their families:

• • Stratford, 653 West Gore Street
    • Thursday, November 2nd: 4:00 to 8:00 pm
    • Friday, November 3rd: 1:00 to 4:00 pm
    • Tuesday, November 14th: 4:00 to 8:00 pm
    • Thursday, November 23rd: 4:00 to 8:00 pm

• • Listowel, 135 Main Street East, Unit 103
    • Tuesday, November 7th: 3:00 to 7:00 pm
    • Tuesday, November 28th: 3:00 to 7:00 pm
  • To book an appointment, call Health Line at 519-271-7600 or toll-free 1-877-271-7348 extension 267.

• Drop-in community clinics at Spruce Lodge (643 West Gore Street) in Stratford – ages six months and over

• • Friday, October 27th: 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
  • Friday, November 10th: 10:00 am to 4:00 pm

 FluMist

• FluMist will be available free for children ages two to 17. It’s a nasal spray of live influenza vaccine that protects against four strains.
• FluMist is available through your family doctor’s office and at the Perth District Health Unit clinics. FluMist may also be available at some pharmacies; call ahead to confirm.

Healthy Habits

To protect against the flu and help stop the spread of influenza in the community, the Health Unit advises all residents to take these precautions:

• Wash hands with soap thoroughly and often
• Cough or sneeze into your sleeve
• Keep surfaces and items disinfected
• Stay home if you are sick
• Get a flu shot.

For more information:

• Call Health Line at 519-271-7600 or toll-free at 1-877-271-7348 extension 267
• Follow us on Facebook and Twitter