Flu Season
As the temperatures start to decline in our fair city, and the hats, gloves and heavy coats begin their resurrection from the closet, it’s about this time of the year we begin to ponder the necessity for a flu shot. Many of us cringe at the very thought of a needle being ceremoniously jabbed into to our arms never mind the endless line ups for a vaccination. Juggling the “do we don’t we”, phenomena, we are reminded by Dr.Gerry Predy, the Senior Medical Officer of health for Alberta Health Services, that flu activity, including outbreaks is on the rise. Although for a number of us we will still endure the graveily throat, the cascading nose runs and the irritating cough that threatens to have our lungs eject from our chest. Whatever remedies we conjure up to battle the seasonal illness’s we need to seriously consider the significant chance of contracting seasonal influenza. According to Alberta Health Services the virus is circulating quite rapidly in Alberta, so it is highly recommended that Albertans act quickly to get immunized and reduce the further spread of the disease in the Province. The supply of the vaccine for Alberta is well over 2 million doses, significantly 700,000 more than last year. To date the AHS have administered about 926,500 doses Province wide. What makes the influenza disease so dangerous is it can be extremely fatal and lead to hospitalization and even death. Last Fridays Calgary Sun headline read “Flu season hits Alberta: Seven killed, dozens more hospitalized”. So this year may be the year that we put away our old fashioned remedies and face the dreaded needle. SAIT Health Services have immunized over a thousand people, both staff and students here on Campus. Walk ins are still available according to their staff, bring your Health Card. Otherwise visit an immunization Clinic, Pharmacy or your Doctor’s Office.
Let’s make SAIT, employees and student have a safe environment to work in.
James McWilliams
SAFA President