With Flu season about to ramp up in BC; Northern Health reminds residents of their care facility policies

No flu shot? Wear a mask if visiting
the Prince Rupert Regional Hospital

The holiday season seems to always be the period of time when we begin to notice the full affect of flu season and as we head towards the end of the month, Northern Health is reminding residents across the region of the policy regarding hospital and long term care facility visits during Flu Season.

The policy which went into effect on December First reminds those that are visiting hospitals that they are being asked to wear a mask if they have not taken advantage of the flu shot program in the region.

The policy is in place to as part of Northern Health's strategy to prevent the spread of flu and protect already vulnerable patients from a potentially fatal infection.

Acropolis Manor is another Northern
Health facility where the flu shot
policy is in effect

“Patients and clients in hospitals and long term care facilities often have weakened immune systems that put them at greater risk of serious complications from influenza,” ...  “The best way to protect not only yourself but the people around you is to get a flu shot, even if you’re normally a healthy individual.” -- Northern Health Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Sandra Allison.

The policy remains in effect until March 31st, though Northern Health urges residents that haven't done so yet, to get a flu shot for additional protection through this flu season.

More on the hospital and long term care advisory can be reviewed here.

Flu shots are available in the Prince Rupert area from Northern Health, or at Canada Safeway, Save On Foods, Shoppers Drug Mart and Wal Mart.

You can search for other clinics around the region from the Immunize BC website, which also has more details about the flu vaccine for this season.

Last week the BC Centre For Disease Control advised that influenza activity was increasing and urged high risk individuals and their close contact to be vaccinated as soon as possible.

“Our monitoring suggests the influenza epidemic will coincide with the festive period in a couple of weeks, ... Since it takes about two weeks for the influenza vaccine to induce protection, now is the time for high-risk individuals and their close contacts to get vaccinated, if they haven’t already.” -- Dr. Danuta Skowronski, influenza lead at the BCCDC

More on the advisory from the Disease Control agency can be reviewed here.

For more items of interest from Northern Health see our archive page here, items specific to the Prince Rupert Regional Hospital can be examined here.