Don't let the flu catch you by surprise!

Vaccination campaign in Montreal against seasonal flu

MONTREAL, Nov. 3, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - The Agence de la santé et des services sociaux de Montréal is kicking off its seasonal flu vaccination campaign. Over 900 vaccinators will be available for anyone who wants to get the shot. Each year, about one in six Montrealers gets the flu, several thousand people are hospitalized and a few hundred die from complications of the infection. The flu can have very serious consequences. This is why it is important to get vaccinated and to use hygiene measures that help protect against the infection.

Where to get vaccinated
To get the seasonal flu vaccine, talk to your doctor, nurse, and pharmacist or to someone at the health and social service centre (CSSS) in your district.

Target groups
The goal of the vaccination campaign is to raise awareness about the potential dangers of the flu and the importance of getting the shot: not only is vaccination safe, it is the most effective way to prevent the illness and its complications. This is particularly true for

• older adults over 60 years old;
• very young children between 6 and 23 months old;
• people with chronic health problems such as heart, lung or kidney disease, diabetes, obesity, cancer, asthma or weakened immune system;
• pregnant women in good health and in the second or third trimester of pregnancy;
• Individuals, including children, who live with people at risk, and health workers.

Symptoms
The flu, or influenza, is a respiratory tract infection caused by the influenza virus. It can lead to serious complications such as pneumonia. Symptoms include sudden onset of fever, dry cough, muscle aches, fatigue and significant general discomfort that lasts several days.

Dr. Richard Massé, Montréal's director of public health, says that, "flu season usually peaks in February or March, but you need to think about protecting yourself now, especially if you're in one of the groups at risk. I'd like to take this opportunity to encourage all staff members in the health and social services network to set the example and get vaccinated. In Montréal, our goal is to increase protection against the flu through better vaccine coverage. To succeed, everyone has to join forces."

For more information about the flu, hygiene measures or vaccination, go to the santemontreal.ca portal.
Available in French at santemontreal.ca/fr

www.agence.santemontreal.qc.ca
www.facebook.com/santemontreal
twitter.com/santemontreal
www.youtube.com/Agencedemontreal

SOURCE: Agence de la santé et des services sociaux de Montréal

Agence de Montréal, Media relations, 514-286-5709