October 09, 2003
Health Minister Dave Chomiak today encouraged health care workers and people with chronic medical conditions to "Get the Shot - Not the Flu".
The 2003 influenza and pneumonia immunization campaign was launched today by the minister at Winnipeg's Sharon Home long-term care facility.
"If you're in one of the at-risk groups, you could be hospitalized or suffer complications from influenza even if you're fit and healthy," said Chomiak. "Being fit and healthy won't protect you against influenza. The best protection is vaccination."
Flu vaccines are free for:
Pneumococcal vaccines are free for Manitobans 65 years of age or older, individuals in personal care homes, people with weakened immune systems and those with chronic conditions such as lung, heart and kidney disease.
Influenza is a serious disease that rapidly affects the whole body. It is easily spread through sneezing and coughing. It is characterized by sudden onset of fever and chills, cough, body aches and pains, fatigue and headaches.
Influenza can be deadly, especially for the elderly and those with a chronic medical condition. Chronic medical conditions include heart and lung diseases, diabetes, ongoing kidney disease, most cancers and other conditions including rheumatoid arthritis, organ transplants or HIV/AIDS.
For people with these conditions, influenza can lead to severe complications such as pneumonia, which in turn can lead to hospitalization or even death.
A yearly vaccination is the best way to lessen the severity of influenza. The target for influenza vaccination is to immunize 90 per cent of all eligible Manitobans. It is not possible to get the flu from the shot because there is no live virus in the vaccine.
Pneumococcal disease can cause severe infections and pneumonia. Unlike the influenza vaccine, which has to be given each year, pneumococcal vaccine is usually given only once.
Eligible individuals can receive flu and pneumococcal vaccinations at any of the flu clinics set up throughout the province during October and November. Immunization is also available from personal physicians, although physicians may charge a small fee for this service.
"Getting the shot will protect thousands of Manitobans from influenza and pneumonia throughout the winter," said Chomiak. "Remember, a flu shot protects you and everyone around you."
To encourage at-risk Manitobans to get a vaccination shot, Manitoba Health is sponsoring a public information campaign.
More information is available at http://www.gov.mb.ca/health/flu/index.html.
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