A Fleetwood pharmacist is urging South of the Fraser residents to get their flu shot as the national average is severely lacking.
“We’re currently sitting at just 37 per cent for 18 to 64 year olds and seniors are at 69 per cent which is well below the 80 per cent target,” said Allan Wong, Pharmacist/Owner of the Fleetwood Shoppers Drug Mart
Wong says children between the age of six and 59 months, people with medical conditions such as cardiovascular issues or diabetes, as well seniors and pregnant women should especially be getting the shot as their immune system is weaker, adding when a person get a flu shot you’re protecting all those people around you.
Flu shots are free for a large portion of B.C residents at local pharmacies with infants needing to get it from their family doctor.
As for the belief vaccines cause autism?
“That’s something that started in the late ’90s,” said Wong. “Unfortunately it’s been quoted by journals over and over again. That initial study that found a link between one type of vaccine that had a correlation to autism, that’s been dispelled and that journals been retracted. I believe in evidence-based medicine. The evidence points to vaccines being safe and not causing autism as of today.”
For tips on keeping your immune system strong, find out who should not receive a flu shot and other medical tips, listen to the full Pulse Mornings interview with Ian Power below.