The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Healthy Living Minister Theresa Oswald yesterday officially launched Manitoba's 2004 influenza immunization campaign at Winnipeg's Golden Door Geriatric Centre by encouraging Manitobans to receive a flu shot before the start of the winter flu season. "Getting a flu shot is probably the best thing you can do to prevent the flu this winter," said Oswald. "It will help to keep you healthy, protect those around you from becoming ill and help make the best possible use of our health care resources." Flu vaccines are free for: * Manitobans aged 65 or older, those who have a chronic health illness or those who live in a personal care home; * infants aged six to 23 months and those who care for infants from birth to 23 months; * health care workers and first responders such as police officers, firefighters, and ambulance workers. Influenza vaccines are safe and cannot cause the flu or pneumonia. Getting a flu shot last year will not provide protection this year. To be protected, a flu shot is needed every fall. Influenza is a disease that affects the whole body. It is spread through sneezing and coughing and is characterized by a sudden onset of fever and chills, cough, body aches and pains, fatigue and headaches. Influenza can be deadly, especially for the elderly and those with a chronic illness. Chronic illnesses where a flu shot may be appropriate include heart and lung disease, diabetes, ongoing kidney disease, most cancers and other conditions including rheumatoid arthritis, organ transplants and HIV/AIDs. For people with these conditions, influenza can lead to severe complications such as pneumonia, hospitalization or even death. Oswald also noted that many Manitobans should also consider the pneumococcal vaccine. "Ask your public health nurse or doctor about a 'pneumo' shot to protect against pneumonia and other serious infections. See 'Protection' P.# Con't from P.# These shots are also free for many Manitobans. For most people, one pneumo shot will give them lifelong protection against most kinds of pneumococcal pneumonia." The pneumococcal vaccine is free for Manitobans 65 years of age or older, individuals in personal care homes, people with weakened immune systems and those with chronic conditions such as lung, heart and kidney disease. Eligible individuals can receive flu and pneumococcal vaccinations at any of the public health flu clinics throughout the province during October and November or from their family physician.
