Back to SearchKINGSTON – KFL&A Public Health has received laboratory confirmation of the first case of Influenza A for the 2017-2018 season. It is important to get immunized now to prevent Influenza A from spreading throughout the region. KFL&A area residents can find the closest immunization clinic online at www.Ontario.ca/flu.
The sooner that a person is immunized against influenza, the sooner that she or he and vulnerable people around them are protected from this contagious and potentially dangerous illness. KFL&A Public Health recommends that all KFL&A area residents, not just the young and the elderly, get immunized as soon as possible
Influenza causes mild to severe illness and can lead to serious health complications, even in healthy children and adults. Immunization is the best way to prevent influenza. The influenza vaccine (i.e., flu shot) is available free of charge to anyone in Ontario over the age of 6 months. Contact your family physician or local pharmacy for your influenza vaccine if your family has not yet been immunized. Even in years when there is a strain mismatch, the flu vaccine will still offer some protection.
Next to immunization, the single most important way to prevent the spread of infection is to clean hands often with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizers. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers should only be used for children if they are assisted and should be stored out of reach of young children.
The symptoms of influenza include fever (greater than 38.0⁰C/100.4⁰F), dry cough, chills, headache, muscle aches, loss of appetite, sore throat, and runny nose. Young children may also experience nausea and vomiting with the above symptoms.
Adults with influenza may be infectious for five days after the onset of their symptoms whereas children may be infectious for up to seven days. If you or your child have symptoms of influenza, it is important to stay home during the infectious period to avoid spreading the illness to others.
In the KFL&A area, there are many simple ways to get influenza immunization. Influenza immunizations are available to residents 6 months of age and older. Influenza immunizations are available from:
• Your family doctor’s office (for patients aged 6 months and older)
• At local pharmacies starting in late October (for patients aged 5 years and older)
• KFL&A Public Health (for residents who have a child under the age of 5 years and no family doctor); book an appointment at one of KFL&A Public Health’s influenza immunization clinics.
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