Influenza - FLU FACTS

Influenza Immunization Is Vital for Health Care Workers

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More than 1400 people in B.C. die from flu and its complications each year.
It is vital that health care workers get the flu vaccine every fall.
When health care workers do not get immunized against flu, they put their patients at risk of serious illness and even death.

 When more than 60% of staff in a facility are immunized against flu, there is a much lower risk of death and illness for the patients.
In fact, whether patients are immunized or not, facilities with more health care workers immunized have fewer patient deaths related to influenza.
Flu immunization is 70 to 90% effective in preventing flu in healthy children and working-age adults.

Flu immunization is safe:
 

		Flu vaccine CANNOT cause influenza, because the vaccine does not contain live virus.
		This vaccine causes no side effects in most people. Some people get mild fever, headache, or malaise.
		Local symptoms such as arm redness and soreness occur in about 1/3 of people, but these symptoms are generally mild and short-lasting.
		Taking plain acetaminophen at the time of vaccination and every four hours after for a total of four doses greatly reduces the mild side effects.
		Last year some people experienced mild eye and respiratory symptoms following their flu shot. Recommendations regarding further flu immunizations for these people will be available this fall. Public Health Update   Do all you can protect your patients and yourself!      Get your FREE vaccine, not the flu.