Although the number of people in Centretown getting their annual flu shot is increasing, residents still have the misconception that the shot gives you the flu, a public health nurse says.
"This is what people don’t understand. The virus isn’t active," says Marilyn Kelly, a nurse at a Bank Street walk-in clinic. "If you get sick after, it’s just bad timing.”
Tasha Waldron, a Centretown resident, says there’s no need for her and her four-year-old daughter to get the flu shot every year.
She admits her opinion is based on stories she has heard from friends getting sick after they received the shot.
“Unless there was some kind of major outbreak, I don’t think my decision will change,” Waldron says.
According to an Ottawa Public Health (OPH) memo, 500 to 1,500 deaths in Canada are attributed to influenza annually.
Paige Watson, a third-year biology student at Carleton University, says the shot is not effective.
“Every year these vaccines are based on predictions because the strain is always different. Therefore, I don’t think doctors can be certain that it works 100 per cent,” she says.
OPH, which monitors Ottawa’s population health status by detecting and tracking outbreaks, has special programs that promote influenza immunization. The Communicable Disease Management Program sets up community immunization clinics for the delivery of this publicly funded vaccine.
Another initiative, called the Street Health Program, has nurses immunizing people in homeless shelters at various outreach sites.
Other strategies include having nurses participate in school health fairs and forums within communities.
Jean Nassar, head pharmacist at O’Connor Pharmacy, gets his shot every year.
“It’s so safe to take and not painful. If you feel pain, just take a few Tylenols,” says Nassar.
Nassar adds that it’s vitally important for children and elders to get immunized.
“If you’re over the age of 50 like me, your resistance is not as strong like that of a kid. Getting it just prevents the complications that come with getting the flu,” he says.
Clinics such as the Centretown Community Health Centre will offer free influenza immunization in early November.
Other locations can be found at www.ottawa.ca .