British Columbians urged to get free flu shot to avoid extra pressure on health-care system

The B.C. Government is asking people to roll up their sleeves and get the influenza vaccine this year.

The province says the flu shots, which are free for every British Columbian older than six months this year, protect the individual and people around them against potentially serious illness or death from influenza.

In previous years, certain segments of the population that were not as vulnerable to the virus had to pay for the vaccine.

The government notes getting a shot this year is especially important as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to put additional strain on the health-care system.

“All British Columbians should get vaccinated against influenza to protect themselves and their loved ones from serious illness, to reduce the strain on our hard-working health workers and to do our part to make sure the health system continues to be there for people who need it, where they need it and when they need it,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health.

“I’m grateful to all of our health-care workers, including physicians, pharmacists, nurses, nurse practitioners and others for how they help people get immunized to protect themselves and those they care about.”

The province stated that influenza and other respiratory viruses will be prevalent in many communities alongside COVID-19, creating a potential risk of escalating pressures on the health care-system. The province said vaccines are now available and work is underway to increase vaccine accessibility through vaccination locations and providers across B.C.

“This year, it’s especially important for people to get vaccinated against influenza. Last year’s low influenza rates means our immunity against influenza is lower than usual,” said Dr. Bonnie Henry, provincial health officer.

“Getting your influenza vaccine this year is more important than ever to protect yourself, your community and our overstretched health-care system.”

This year will see flu vaccines made available to pharmacies through a direct-distribution model, meaning pharmacies will be able to order vaccines directly from distributors. The province says this will make influenza immunization easier and more flexible for British Columbians to access.

Flu shots have already been made available to certain high-risk groups, and British Columbians are encouraged to check their health authority’s website or call their health care provider or pharmacist to book their shots when they are made available to the broader public.

Interior Health (IH) notes that influenza vaccines have started to arrive in the Interior, and the high-risk and vulnerable populations have been vaccinated through targeted clinics.

IH states that work is underway with doctors, nurses, pharmacists and licensed nurse practitioners to ensure a wide distribution of shots and create lots of opportunities for people to get vaccinated.

IH notes that flu season typically starts in November, and encourages people to schedule appointments for both their flu shots and their COVID-19 vaccinations to reduce the risk of putting additional pressure on the local health-care system.

British Columbians can find locations near them offering flu shots at the province’s ImmunizeBC website.