Flu shots are already available at a number of locations in Greater Moncton, and medical officials are recommending that you get one.
Flu season usually runs from around the beginning of November to March or April.
Pharmacist Scott Cameron says there are certain people who qualify for a free shot, “Any patients who are under the age of 18, or over the age of 65. Anyone between that age groups, if they have a chronic medical condition, such as diabetes, a problem with their immune system, if they have a history of cancer, or a heart condition or trouble breathing, they may all qualify for a free shot.”
Cameron adds, “It is just a myth that you can get the flu from the shot. The flu vaccine if a dead virus and it is chopped up into little pieces. Your body can put the pieces together to make the puzzle whenever the virus gets into your body and your body can attack it to make sure your don’t get the flu, or you may have a reduced severity of the symptoms, so you’ll never get the flu from the flu shot.”
It takes about two weeks for the shot to be effective in your system.
If you do begin to notice symptoms of the flu, they may include body aches, fever, chills, and fatigue.
Cameron says they are anticipating a nasty flu season in Canada, based on the number of people who had it in Austrailia, where winter just ended.