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"Ouch!" Cries Joseph Salverda, as the six-year-old is vaccinated for the first time. As soon as the needle is out, however, he returns to his smiling and friendly self.
He is the eldest of his three siblings, including four-year-old Cherith, who makes no noise, Peter (two years old, one punch) and Abigail, three months old. Their mother, Brittny Salverda, began by showing her young daughter how she behaved and they sat down on her lap in turn to get vaccinated.
"It's part of our effort to be healthy," said the mother of four. Their young family has already been affected by the flu "and every time, it's terrible. We thought we were going to make a big effort this time to try and avoid it. "
In the Saanich Center Public Health Unit, Dr. Dee Hoyano, Public Health Officer, said Island Health encourages parents to vaccinate their children against influenza.
"The time has come to get it rather than wait until December or January, when your chances of being exposed are much greater. Your body still needs a little time to protect yourself from the vaccine, so consider getting the flu shot now, "Hoyano said.
The Public Health Agency of Canada estimates that 3,500 people die each year from flu-related complications throughout the country, she said. Children, the elderly and people with health problems are at greatest risk of getting the flu.
"If you have an elderly person at home, if you have a baby at home or if you are in regular contact with people like that, you are also entitled to the flu shot," she said.
"We know that the flu vaccine is a very safe vaccine. It has very few side effects and it's beneficial. This will help you not to get sick and to your community, because if you do not have the flu, you will not be able to transmit it. "
While clinics offer flu vaccines, pharmacists in Greater Victoria also provide the annual vaccine, which, according to pharmacy director Dave Jeske, may be more practical. At Broadmead Pharmasave, where he works, about 20 to 30 percent more people get the flu shot every year because pharmacies have longer schedules and do not require appointments.
"I tell people that it's partly about protecting yourself, but it goes beyond that. Although people say, "I'm not going to catch the flu," it's to protect others against the flu, "Jeske said.
Whether or not you have had the flu before does not mean you will not get the flu in the future, he said, especially since influenza strains change every year. He himself already had the flu and was "stunned" for almost 12 days while it worked in his system. At the time, he was young and healthy.
"I can not imagine a child or a senior experiencing the same process because it was very difficult."
Once Salvedera's three children received their vaccinations (little Abigail had one), the nurse told them, "You're always brave if you cry. and all the children were smiling again.
@KeiliBartlett
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