Health unit urging people to get flu shots

By Jack Carver

Health clinics in the area are gearing up for a typical flu but officials are still urging people to get their shots.

The vaccine contains three strains of influenza selected on a basis of what is circling around and what could be in the future. This process is done months in advance to properly assess what goes into the vaccine.

Health officials at the Hastings & Prince Edward Counties Health Unit said that there aren’t any unusual viruses or flus on the horizon for this season but that people should still get the shot to protect themselves and others around them.

“We’re always trying to get more people to get their flu shot, but I typically find that there’s people who get their flu shot every year on a regular basis,” said Wayne Tucker, director of communicable disease control and the Hastings & Prince Edward Counties Health Unit. “It’s all the other people who we’re trying to address and trying to get the message out there to.”

Tucker assures naysayers that you cannot get sick from the flu shot.

“People think they can get flu from the flu shot,” said Tucker. “The vaccine can’t give you the flu, but that’s still one of those myths out there. People don’t understand that the vaccine doesn’t contain a live virus, its impossible to get the flu from the vaccine.”

People still don’t like the idea of getting injected with any sort of virus. Second-year television new media student, Annaliese Heissler, said the idea makes her uncomfortable.

“I am deathly afraid of throwing up and being injected with the flu virus even in controlled, moderate, doses it freaks the hell out of me,” said Heissler. “I would only consider it this year because my sister had a baby and I wouldn’t want to pass flu on to it. Otherwise I don’t get it.”

Some people just figure they won’t get sick. Photojournalism student, Ian Brown, said he is confident he won’t get sick.

“I find it useless, I can never afford the time off due to a flu and apparently it doesn’t do a hell of a lot,” said Brown. “It might protect you from the occasional outbreak but it’s a virus, it mutates so often that its probably not going to be that accurate.”

Others don’t feel like it makes a big enough difference. Second year photojournalism student, Gail Paquette last got the flu shot six years ago.

“I did it about six years ago year and I still got really, very, sick,” said Paquette. “The idea of them injecting a virus, dead or not, into you is weird. I just don’t feel like I get any sicker than people around me who do get flu shots.”

These are the kind of people that Tucker and the health unit are trying to get in to get their shots.

The first clinic opens on Monday, October 15^th at the Greek Hall on Harder Drive.