Even though last year’s flu vaccine missed the mark, Dr Jean Rodrigue believes it is the best way to protect against this virus.
Director of public health in the Montérégie, Dr Rodrigue calls it an isolated incident when referring to the vaccine last year which did not offer the anticipated protection. “Actually, immunization is what has essentially rendered a number of illnesses like polio and tetanus to the realm of history, he underlined. The public knows that vaccination is a good tool.”
The contents of the vaccine, which is administered since November 1st, were decided on last January. If the virus has mutated in the meantime, the effectiveness of the vaccine could be affected. But there is every reason to believe that the target will be reached. “We are getting better and better at controlling outbreaks of influenza,” insists Dr Rodrigue.
Appointments on line
36,000 doses have been administered in the Montérégie-Ouest territory last year. We are clearly hoping to increase this number with the campaign <@Ri>Don’t let the flu take you by surprise, get vaccinated! Ne vous laissez pas surprendre par la grippe, faites-vous vacciner<@$p> to be launched on Tuesday.
“By getting vaccinated, you protect your own health, and everyone else’s too,” noted Yves Masse, Directer General and Chair of the Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux in Montérégie-Ouest.
Two digital tools are available to the public. There is vaccincontrelagrippe.com which provides more information about the flu and complete vaccination schedules for territories in Montérégie-Ouest.
The Internet site www.monvaccin.ca allows you to make an appointment for your shot. You can select the time and place that you and your family members would like to get vaccinated.
Influenza in Canada
20,000 hospitalisations a year
4000 deaths a year
Vaccine contents
H1N1 strain (from type A, highly infectious)
New strains of H3N2 (from type B, flu that spreads in the spring)
Any person susceptible to complications from the flu
Children 6 to 23 months
Adults over 60
Individuals with a weakened immune system
Severely obese individuals
Anyone two years of age and older suffering from chronic heart, lung or kidney disease or who has diabetes or cancer.
Pregnant women who suffer from one of these illnesses, and all pregnant women in their second and third trimester of pregnancy.
