If you plan on visiting a loved one in a health-care facility this winter, the Ministry of Health is reminding you get your flu shot first.
As of December 1st, you must be vaccinated against the flu if you want to enter a provincial health-care facility, otherwise you’ll be asked to wear a mask. These facilities include hospitals, long-term care homes, public health units and outpatient clinics.
“This year’s flu strain is particularly dangerous to seniors,” said the Ministry of Health in a statement. “Hospitalized patients and seniors in residential care and assisted living are more vulnerable to influenza than healthy adults.”
While nobody formally checks you when entering a hospital, visitors will be asked to comply with this policy on the honour system.
People infected with the flu are highly contagious for 24 hours before they even realize they’re sick and there are approximately 3,500 deaths from the flu and it’s complications in Canada each year.
The flu vaccine is available at public health clinics, physicians’ offices, travel clinics and pharmacies. It’s also free for certain children, seniors, pregnant women, Aboriginal people and those with compromised immune systems.
For those who haven’t gotten a flu shot, masks will be provided for free at these health-care facilities.
You can find more information about influenza and vaccination clinics by visiting www.immunizebc.ca.
