Although the H1N1 strain of influenza is still around, health officials say this flu season is business as usual.
“H1N1 is still moving around, but it’s not novel this year,” said David Williams, Ontario’s associate chief medical officer of health. “A lot of people were exposed to it last year and as a result it’s not a pandemic. We still expect it see some of it around and it is part of the vaccine.”
Williams, a former medical officer of health at the Thunder Bay District Health Unit, was in town Friday to speak to local physicians and health-care providers about what to expect this flu season and how to educate patients on how they can protect themselves from infection.
Along with hand hygiene, staying home if sick and coughing into your sleeve, vaccination is one of the best ways to protect from getting or spreading the flu, said Williams, noting health care providers are key in sending that message to patients.
“We’re trying to look at making sure our physician community is highly engaged because people do want to listen to what their physician recommends or their health care provider,” said Williams. “That’s a very important team member for us.”
And with a large amount of misinformation floating around, Williams added that a doctor can answer any question a patient might have.
“Instead of sitting there not making a decision because of what you think you might have heard, ask and get the facts straight and make a decision appropriately,” he said.
One common myth is that the flu shot causes people to get sick. Williams said the product in the vaccine has been killed; it’s not active.
“It can’t cause flu,” he said. “I know some people feel that way but there’s no way biologically and functionally it can cause any spread of influenza.”
He added people often mistake feel achy or unwell for 24 to 48 hours as the flu.
“When you get real influenza, it’s a whole different story. People are very ill for four or five days of high fever, sometimes really out of it,” said Williams. “It’s not something to be taken lightly.”
The flu shot is not recommended for children under six months of age, if you’ve had an allergic reaction to the vaccine in the past or if you have an egg allergy. Any other concerns can be addressed by a family doctor.
“H1N1 is still moving around, but it’s not novel this year,” said David Williams, Ontario’s associate chief medical officer of health. “A lot of people were exposed to it last year and as a result it’s not a pandemic. We still expect it see some of it around and it is part of the vaccine.”
Williams, a former medical officer of health at the Thunder Bay District Health Unit, was in town Friday to speak to local physicians and health-care providers about what to expect this flu season and how to educate patients on how they can protect themselves from infection.
Along with hand hygiene, staying home if sick and coughing into your sleeve, vaccination is one of the best ways to protect from getting or spreading the flu, said Williams, noting health care providers are key in sending that message to patients.
“We’re trying to look at making sure our physician community is highly engaged because people do want to listen to what their physician recommends or their health care provider,” said Williams. “That’s a very important team member for us.”
And with a large amount of misinformation floating around, Williams added that a doctor can answer any question a patient might have.
“Instead of sitting there not making a decision because of what you think you might have heard, ask and get the facts straight and make a decision appropriately,” he said.
One common myth is that the flu shot causes people to get sick. Williams said the product in the vaccine has been killed; it’s not active.
“It can’t cause flu,” he said. “I know some people feel that way but there’s no way biologically and functionally it can cause any spread of influenza.”
He added people often mistake feel achy or unwell for 24 to 48 hours as the flu.
“When you get real influenza, it’s a whole different story. People are very ill for four or five days of high fever, sometimes really out of it,” said Williams. “It’s not something to be taken lightly.”
The flu shot is not recommended for children under six months of age, if you’ve had an allergic reaction to the vaccine in the past or if you have an egg allergy. Any other concerns can be addressed by a family doctor.
