REGIONAL. The flu vaccination campaign will begin on November 1st. To protect your health and that of your loved ones, the CIUSSS MCQ invites people at risk of complications to make an appointment now.
With the return to a more normal life due to the reduction in the measures, we unfortunately expect a strong comeback of the seasonal flu virus in Quebec this year. Vaccination remains the best way to protect oneself, mainly for people with a higher risk of developing complications, hospitalization or death linked to this virus ”mentions Dr. Brigitte Chaput, medical consultant at the Department of Public Health and population responsibility of the CIUSSS MCQ.
Who should get vaccinated?
The seasonal flu shot is recommended and offered free of charge to people who are at greater risk of developing complications, including:
• people aged 75 or over;
• people 6 months and older living with certain chronic conditions or diseases (eg diabetes, weakened immune system, heart, lung or kidney disease);
• and pregnant women in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters (13 weeks and more).
In order to reduce the risk of transmission, the vaccination is also offered free of charge to people living under the same roof as the people named above, to their natural caregivers, to people living with a baby under 6 months old and to health workers. .
We should also mention that the vaccination of residents of CHSLDs and intermediate resources welcoming the elderly has already started and that private seniors’ residences in the region will also be visited as of November 1.
Three easy ways to make an appointment
1. First, check if the vaccine is available from your doctor or pharmacist.
2. Otherwise, visit ciusssmcq.ca/vaccination to make an appointment online easily, quickly, securely and confidentially.
3. If you do not have access to the Internet or if you have difficulty registering, first ask for help from a relative to make an appointment online, otherwise dial 1 833 802-0460. Note that this telephone number does not allow you to make an appointment at a pharmacy.
It is important to remember that the COVID-19 vaccine does not protect against the flu and that there is no interval between doses of the COVID-19 vaccine and that of the flu.
In closing, Dr. Chaput recalls “that the application of simple hygiene measures, such as washing your hands, coughing in your elbow, wearing a mask and respecting physical distancing, reduces the risk of influenza transmission, COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses. It is also important not to hesitate to get tested quickly for Covid-19 and to postpone the visit of vulnerable people when flu-like symptoms appear “.
For more information on influenza and vaccination, visit the website at ciusssmcq.ca/vaccination.
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