Protect yourself from the flu
Influenza (flu) season generally occurs in the fall and winter but can occur as early as October and as late as May. Even healthy people can get very sick from the flu and spread it to others. Getting the flu shot is your best protection.
Flu clinics
Starting October, 2023, Influenza vaccines will be available across British Columbia.
The flu vaccines will be booked through the provincial government’s Get Vaccinated system, instead of booking through pharmacies as the public has done in the past. If you have already registered with the Get Vaccinated system for the COVID-19 vaccine, you will not need to re-register to receive an invite for the influenza vaccine. If you have not yet registered, you will need to visit the Get Vaccinated page to register. Learn more
The Pharmacists Clinic at the UBC Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences is participating in the Provincial Influenza Campaign. Immunizations for Influenza and COVID-19 will be held on:
- Monday, October 30, 2023, 1:00–4:00 pm
- Tuesday, October 31, 2023, 9:00 am–12:00 pm
- Tuesday, November 7, 2023, 1:00–4:00 pm
Advance appointments are booked by registering with the provincial government’s Get Vaccinated system.
*Vaccination against measles mumps and rubella (MMR), tetanus and pneumococcal pneumonia will also be available.
For UBC Okanagan, please visit: https://hse.ok.ubc.ca/flu
About flu shots
While other healthy habits (such as hand-washing) are important, flu vaccines have a very good safety track record and are the best defense to beat the flu bug. If you get the flu you might miss out on what’s important to you—school, work, social events. You could be sick for over a week, and that’s no fun for anyone.
The flu shot is safe, and it works— it’s the best way to avoid getting sick with the flu, and prevent passing it on
Even if the vaccine doesn’t match the strain of flu going around, it provides some protection and is still the best way to protect yourself against the virus. By getting a flu shot, not only do you protect yourself, but you also protect those around you too. You can be contagious for up to seven days even if you don’t have symptoms.
No matter how healthy you are, anyone can get the flu
Between 10-20% of Canadians will get the flu this year – that’s millions of people!
For more info on flu vaccine safety and effectiveness, visit these health websites:
- HealthLinkBC: Learn about the vaccine
- Government of Canada: Flu (influenza): Symptoms and treatment
- Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Cold versus Flu
Reasons you should care about the flu
- Getting sick can take you away from what’s important to you. Most people who get the flu are sick for over a week. That’s potentially more than seven days of potentially missing work, social functions and fitness activities.
- Flu season begins when people start getting sick. This year, there are signs that the flu season could start early and could hit hard.
- The flu is highly contagious and can spread quickly and easily from person-to-person especially on university campuses.
- Passing the flu onto family members could mean additional time away from work if you need to care for them.
- The flu is not the common cold and is nothing to sniff at. In fact, it can affect everyone, including those who are healthy.
- Every year, over 12,000 Canadians are hospitalized and 3,500 die from the flu.
- Nobody likes to be sick!
- The best way to avoid getting sick with the flu is to get a flu shot. It’s safe and it works.