Publicly funded seasonal flu shots for seniors and people living in long-term care facilities begin Tuesday at health units and other locations across the region.
sa国际传媒 public health officials earlier made the decision to offer immunization for regular seasonal flu only to those over the age of 65 or living in rest homes in advance of the H1N1 flu vaccine, expected next month.
Seniors are the least likely to fall ill with H1N1, possibly because of previous exposure. But they remain the most at risk from life-threatening complications from seasonal flu.
In the face of as-yet-unreviewed studies suggesting seasonal flu shots might make people more susceptible to H1N1, officials decided to hold off on publicly funded flu shots for those younger than 65 until after the H1N1 vaccines have been administered.
To find a clinic to receive a seasonal flu shot, visit www.viha.ca/flu or www.immunizebc.ca or www.healthlinkbc.ca or telephone HealthLink sa国际传媒 at 811.
