Influenza (flu) season generally occurs in the fall and winter but can occur as early as October and as late as May. Even healthy people can get very sick from the flu and spread it to others. Getting the flu shot is your best protection.
UBC Okanagan Flu Clinics – Now complete for 2023
HSE, in partnership with the UBCO School of Nursing, Interior Health and the Southern Medical Program were able to offer 5 large-scale Flu Vaccine Clinics on campus and administered 1,367 vaccine doses.
Not only do these clinics help to protect individuals against influenza, but they serve to create a more resilient campus community. They also allow for hands-on experience for our 100% volunteer immunizers (nursing and medical students).
Public Health Clinics
If you missed the campus clinics, Flu shots can still be obtained through other public clinics occurring off-campus or through a pharmacy.
Interior Health sets up influenza vaccination clinics through the early part of flu season. In the later part of the flu season (i.e. from December to March), flu shots are available by appointment only. Please call Public Health Flu Information Line for further information: (250) 868-7715.
You can find Immunize BC’s Influenza clinic locator at www.immunizebc.ca
About Flu Shots
While other healthy habits (such as hand-washing) are important, flu vaccines have a very good safety track record and are the best defence to beat the flu bug. If you get the flu you might miss out on what’s important to you—school, work, social events. You could be sick for over a week, and that’s no fun for anyone.
The flu shot is safe, and it works— it is the best way to avoid getting sick with the flu, and prevent passing it on.
Even if the vaccine doesn’t match the strain of flu going around, it provides some protection and is still the best way to protect yourself against the virus. By getting a flu shot, not only do you protect yourself, but you also protect those around you too. You can be contagious for up to seven days even if you don’t have symptoms.
No matter how healthy you are, anyone can get the flu.
Between 10-20% of Canadians will get the flu this year – that’s millions of people! The flu spreads is especially rapid on university campuses because we work, study and socialize so closely. No one is superman so it pays to protect yourself.
For more info on flu vaccine safety and effectiveness, visit these health websites:
Reasons You Should Care About The Flu
- Getting sick can take you away from what’s important to you. Most people who get the flu are sick for over a week. That’s potentially more than seven days of potentially missing work, social functions and fitness activities.
- Flu season begins when people start getting sick. This year, there are signs that the flu season could start early and could hit hard.
- The flu is highly contagious and can spread quickly and easily from person-to-person especially on university campuses.
- Passing the flu onto family members could mean additional time away from work if you need to care for them.
- The flu is not the common cold and is nothing to sniff at. In fact, it can affect everyone, including those who are healthy.
- Every year, over 12 000 Canadians are hospitalized and 3 500 die from the flu.
- Nobody likes to be sick!
- The best way to avoid getting sick with the flu is to get a flu shot. It’s safe and it works.
