Don't take influenza too lightly. It's a dangerous infectious disease that's easily passed along.
During the last influenza season in Canada from August 2013 to August 2014 there were 5,284 people hospitalized and 331 deaths, according to the Canadian government website charts.
There are ways to avoid the dreaded disease that affects millions of Canadians each year and the best way is to get immunized.
Here's how the vaccine works, according to the Northern Health website:
When a person is vaccinated, the body thinks the small amount of germs injected, which are either killed or weakened, are the disease itself, prompting the body to create antibodies, which are proteins that destroy the germs.
So when the real disease enters the body in the future, the antibodies are ready to fight it off.
Often the body remembers how to fight a germ for the rest of its life but others require a booster dose. That's why it's recommended to get a flu shot every year.
For two to eight year olds the nasal spray FluMist is the ideal way to administer the flu immunization and the response is good when offered to nine to 17 year olds as well as adults, said program manager for Carolyn Bouchard, program manager for the communicable disease and adult team for Prince George. FluMist is available through public health at Northern Health and some physicians also offer it but right now pharmacists are not able to administer it, Bouchard added.
Here are the locations for the flu immunization clinics in Prince George.
Call for hours of operation.
Third Ave Pharmacy, 1467 Third Ave., 250-564-7147
Rexall 7175 Reid's Prescription, 1669 Victoria St., 250-562-5677
Northern Interior Health Unit, 1444 Edmonton St., 250-565-7311
Shoppers Drug Mart, 693 Central St. West, 250-562-2311
Target Pharmacy at Pine Centre, 2999 Massey Dr., 250-277-8071
Shoppers Drug Mart, 3055 Massey Dr., 250-562-8169
Loblaw Pharmacy, Real Canadian Superstore, 2155 Ferry Ave, 250-960-1335
Costco Pharmacy, 2555 Range Rd., 250-614-1759
Shoppers Drug Mart, 5240 Domano Blvd., 250-964-1888
Hart Pioneer Centre, 6986 Hart Hwy., 250-962-6712
Hart Drugmart, 6707 Dagg Rd., 250-962-9666
Shoppers Drug Mart, 760 Madill Rd., 250-962-1814
