It’s been a while since medical experts have been promoting the imperatives of getting your annual flu shot.
In fact, the precautions we took during the COVID-19 pandemic’s peak, such as hygiene measures and masking helped forestall influenza outbreaks over the past couple of years.
Not so now, according to Acting Medical Officer of Health with the Renfrew County and District Health Unit, Dr. Robert Cushman.
You’ll likely be familiar with the argument, “I’d get a flu shot- but I hear they aren’t really that effective against the strains of influenza that are making the rounds.”
Given what we’re hearing daily about kids’ hospitals, including CHEO, being overwhelmed by respiratory illnesses in the very young, Dr. Cushman is dismayed more families aren’t availing themselves of the precautionary vaccines we can all get.
Some of the RCDHU vaccine clinics provide flu shots and COVID boosters at the same time.
Cushman says an attitude of “too busy” may be “too late” as proper precautions can assure that we keep Christmas a healthy Christmas- medically, socially, and economically.
By Rick Stow
