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Pharmacist reminds you to book flu and COVID shots

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Now that we are knee deep into the fall season, we are getting a reminder that it is time for flu and COVID shots.

Sarah Boudreau, owner and manager of MacKeigan’s Pharmacy in Nova Scotia tells our newsroom that it’s very important to protect yourself and others around you by preventing people from getting these diseases.

“We look at the strains that are circulating and then develop our vaccines to protect against those. So, that’s why it’s important to get it every year, so that you’re protected against what currently circulating,” she says.

Flu symptoms are fever, headaches, fatigue, runny nose or sore throat, so getting the shot helps minimize the infection you might get.

“It also helps prevent you from landing in the hospital or dying. The flu, COVID, and pneumonia are in the top 10 causes of death in Canada, so this helps prevent death,” she shares.

Boudreau tells us the flu spikes later in the fall into the winter months and goes away mostly in the summertime.

“COVID’s around all the time. 12 months of the year. So, it hasn’t gone away. It’s still circulating, and it’s still important to get protected against it,” she explains.

She recommends vaccinations for everyone six months and up, especially people who are 65 and older or immunocompromised.

Other important immunizations she mentions include Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), shingles, tetanus and pneumonia.

RSV is another respiratory virus that circulates and really impacts the elderly and young children and the government is publicly funding the RSV vaccine for people 75 years and older, according to Boudreau.

You can book your vaccines at a pharmacy, some doctor offices or mobile units.

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Vaccinated U.S. Citizens Could Come To Canada Next Month

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Ottawa is aiming to allow fully vaccinated U.S. citizens into Canada by mid-August.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau provided the update on a Thursday night call with Canada’s premiers.

The Canada-U.S. border has been closed to non-essential travel since March of last year.

Trudeau said if our current vaccination rate continues, we would be able to welcome fully vaccinated travellers from all countries by early September.

“First Ministers expressed their support of reopening plans, and agreed on the importance of ensuring clarity and predictability as initial steps are taken,” said a readout from the call.

Trudeau said Canada continues to lead G20 countries in vaccination rates with about 80 per cent of eligible Canadians vaccinated with their first dose and more than 50 per cent fully vaccinated.

But the prime minister encouraged “collective momentum” to ensure as many people as possible are fully vaccinated.

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Health Unit Resumes Vaccination Program

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The Northwestern Health is starting to shift its attention away from COVID-19.

Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kit Young Hoon stresses the pandemic remains their top priority but notes they want to start resuming some critical services.

“We are trying to focus in on increasing or catching up with vaccines across the population for those routine vaccines that usually occur in young children zero to six and then for Grade’s seven and eight.

Young Hoon notes those age groups can now book an appointment at local health unit offices.

She adds they will soon work with educators to get school clinics up and running.

Young Hoon stresses their vaccination program is considered essential as they want to avoid another infectious disease outbreak.

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Thirty-Seven Million Vaccine Syringes Purchased In Canada

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The federal government is looking to the future, in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Minister of Public Services and Procurement Anita Anand says they are preparing for when a vaccine is found, “While researchers around the world are working quickly, we have signed a contract with Becton Dickinson Canada for 37 million syringes. We are also continuing to work to procure other supplies needed for eventual mass vaccinations on a systemic level. We are making sure that when a viable vaccine is discovered, Canada is ready.”

Anand adds, “The delivery schedule is still being determined, but I will say we are planning ahead.”

Meantime, Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam says there is no requirement or policy from the perspective of the federal government to make these vaccines mandatory at this point.

“It is not something we’ve provided even in for example the last pandemic in 2009. We do account for the maximum number of Canadians who wish to be vaccinated,” Dr. Tam says.

She adds the National Advisory Committee on Immunization will be looking at the framework for prioritizing the vaccine to Canadians.