THUNDER BAY - Public flu shot clinics are wrapping up, but there are still opportunities to protect yourself from what health care professionals are calling a bad flu season this year.
Superior North EMS held its last public flu shot clinic on Wednesday at its Junot headquarters. Marika Listenmaa, superintendent for professional standards with Superior North EMS, said more people are recognizing the importance of getting the annual shot.
“I think the more information that comes out, the more clinics that are held, the more opportunity there is to get the flu shot and I think when people get their questions answered, I think they are more open to receiving the flu vaccination,” she said. “I think there is a lot of misinformation out there.”
The Thunder Bay District Health Unit began its public flu shot clinics in late October and Superior North EMS held three public clinics.
“I think it’s really important for us to hold this for the public because it gives paramedics an opportunity to be proactive in the community,” Listenmaa said. “Most people meet paramedics when it’s an emergency situation, so this is an opportunity when paramedics want to help the community in a non-emergency way.”
Seasonal influenza, or the flu, is a respiratory illness with symptoms like a fever, cough, muscle aches and pain, as well as headache, chills, sore throat, and nausea and vomiting. The best way to protect yourself from getting the flu or experiencing less severe symptoms is to be immunized.
“It’s really important to be vaccinated because even if you are not in the high risk category, you may pass it along to someone who is in a high-risk category, someone who is immune-compromised, elderly people, anyone with children under five, it is those people who are high risk who will suffer graver consequences, like even death,” Listenmaa said. “We want to make sure the whole community helps each other out by vaccinating so we don’t pass these things along.”
“In Thunder Bay, everybody is out in the community,” Listenmaa said. “You may not know you are going to pass along the virus. It is something that has the potential to affect everyone.”
And while the Health Unit and EMS have concluded public flu shot clinics for the year, vaccinations are still available through a health care provider and pharmacists can also provide shots to anyone over the age of five.
The flu shot clinic at Superior North EMS will remain open until 7 p.m. Wednesday evening at the Junot Avenue EMS Station.
