That time of year again: Calvin Feader gets his flu shot Wednesday morning from health nurse Leah Smith.

Kenneth Brown
of The Clarion

Health officials in Saskatchewan have launched their annual immunization campaign for seasonal influenza, and walk-in clinics are starting to take place.

The first walk-in clinic for Kindersley took place yesterday in the boardroom at the Kindersley & District Health Centre. The official launch of the immunization campaign was Oct. 22. People are encouraged to get the flu shot to protect themselves and others.

“Vaccination is the vest way to protect yourself and your loved ones this influenza season,” Dr. Julie Kryzanowski, senior medical health officer for the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA), said on Monday as clinics opened across the province. “The influenza vaccine is free and it’s recommended for all adults and for children six months of age or older.”

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Additional walk-in clinics in Kindersley will take place at the health centre’s boardroom on Oct. 29 and Dec. 17 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the West Central Events Centre on Nov. 26 from noon to 7 p.m., and on Jan. 14 at the public health clinic room from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Walk-in clinics will also be taking place in surrounding communities on Nov. 5 at Eatonia Oasis Living from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., on Nov. 16 at the Dodsland Clinic from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., on Nov. 20 at the Kerrobert Senior Hall from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., on Nov. 6 and Dec. 10 at the Wheatland Club in Eston from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and on Nov. 16 at the Plenty Community Hall from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

People could visit www.4flu.ca for more information on the flu shot and clinics in their areas. Kryzanowski said the vaccine has been publicly funded in recent flu seasons and with flu shots being made available for free, health officials are seeing a slight increase in the uptake each year.

Kryzanowski said the vaccine is available at select pharmacies across the province, and also at the offices of physicians and nurse practitioners. She said the SHA is working with its partners to ensure people have access to clinics where they live.

She noted that the vaccine decreases people’s chances of being infected by seasonal influenza. The vaccine is developed each year to protect people from the type A and B influenzas in circulation across the country. Kryzanowski said getting a flu shot is the best way for people to project communities.

The medical health officer said people could help to prevent the spread of viruses such as influenza by washing their hands frequently, staying home if they feel ill and coughing into their sleeves and arms. She mentioned high-risk groups.

“The goal of the province is to increase uptake,” she said, recognizing the importance for people who are eligible to take advantage of the free flu shot. “The vaccine is particularly recommended for certain populations who are at high risk of complications for flu and these include people with underlying health conditions, people who are very young, so between six months and under five years of age, woman who are pregnant during the flu season as well as people who are caregivers to any of these populations.”

Kryzanowski said health officials strongly recommend the vaccine to any of the above high risk groups and their caregivers. She noted that not all clinics are walk-in clinics, so there are clinics that prefer people to register.

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