Protect Your Organization from the Perils of Influenza

Novus Health partners with organizations to help keep individuals healthy by providing important and timely health information. When it comes to preventing a flu outbreak in the workplace, health experts recommend that employees wash their hands regularly, stay home when they are contagious, and get flu shots if they are vulnerable to illness. Never underestimate the serious impact that influenza can have on employee health and the health of your business.

Just like previous flu seasons, you should continue to practice good infection control to decrease your chances of getting sick. And, of course, you should also consider getting the flu shot.

What kind of flu shot is available this year?

Each year, a new vaccine is developed to protect us against the top three flu viruses found circulating around the globe. The 2016/2017 flu shot for the northern hemisphere includes two strains of Influenza A and one strain of the B virus. In Canada, there are ten vaccines approved for administration:

• • • Agriflu® (Novartis)
    • Fluad® (Novartis)
    • Fluad Pediatric^TM (Novartis)
    • Flulaval® Tetra (GlaxoSmithKline)
    • FluMist® (AstraZeneca) live attenuated vaccine
    • Fluviral® (GlaxoSmithKline)
    • Fluzone® (Sanofi Pasteur)
    • Influvac® (BGP Pharma ULC; note: products may still be labelled Abbott)
    • Intanza® (Sanofi Pasteur)
    • Vaxigrip® (Sanofi Pasteur)

You may contact the Ministry/Department of Health in your province or territory for more information on the specific types of vaccines that are available and publicly funded.

For more information on where and when you can get your flu shot, visit FightFlu.ca.

Who should get the flu shot?

According to the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), anyone over the age of 6 months can get the flu shot, with a few exceptions. Certain high-risk groups are especially encouraged to get vaccinated.

Who should not get the flu shot	High-risk groups encouraged to receive the vaccine
Infants under 6 months of age Anyone allergic to eggs, egg products, or other components of the vaccine* (egg-allergic individuals may be able to receive the trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine if they have been assessed by their physician) Anyone with a previous allergic reaction to the flu shot Anyone with a high fever at the time of vaccination Anyone who has Guillian Barré Syndrome	Pregnant women Adults and children with underlying health conditions Seniors and those in long-term care facilities Children between 6 months and 4 years of age Health care providers and caregivers of the elderly Health care providers and caregivers of infants under the age of 6 months Household contacts of those in high-risk groups Obese persons (BMI = 40) Aboriginal peoples

*All vaccines are manufactured by a process involving chicken eggs, which means the vaccines may contain trace amounts of egg protein. If you are allergic to eggs, or if you have had allergic reactions to vaccines in the past, it is important that you mention it to your physician and to the health professionals administering the vaccines.

Need more information?

Learn more about the flu shot at the PHAC website, or take advantage of the following online resources:

• Find flu-related information relevant to residents of your province or territory, such as finding a flu clinic in your area, at FightFlu.ca.
• Get weekly flu updates by visiting FluWatch.
• Review the PHAC’s provincial/territorial flu reports.
• Learn about children and the flu shot on the Canadian Paediatric Society’s website.

For more insight, check out these health articles.

Key Websites

• Government of Canada: About the Flu
• Government of Canada: Flu (influenza)
• Government of Canada: How can influenza be prevented?
• Government of Canada: What is the treatment for influenza?
• Immunize Canada: Influenza
• Immunize Canada: Vaccine contents
• Public Health Agency of Canada: Flu Watch