The influenza vaccine is now available at doctors' offices, community health centres and walk-in medical clinics throughout the city.

The vaccine is publicly funded and recommended for all people aged six months or older that live, work or study in Ontario.

“The flu vaccine is safe, free and the most effective way to protect yourself and your loved ones from the flu,” said Dr. Nadine Sicard, Ottawa’s Associate Medical Officer of Health. “Getting the flu vaccine is an easy way to avoid missing school or work, or passing on the flu to those around you”.

In the coming weeks, most residents can receive the vaccine from traditional providers such as their family doctor, health care practitioner or at a workplace immunization clinic. In fact, OPH has identified 727 doctors at 312 sites across Ottawa who will be providing flu vaccines. Ottawa residents will also be able to get the flu vaccine at 37 public clinics in neighbourhoods across the city beginning in late October.

“We are seeing a trend where young and middle aged adults are skipping the vaccine.  This is cause for concern as many adults between 20 and 64 years have a chronic condition like lung or heart disease, which puts them at increased risk for complications from influenza” said Dr. Sicard.

“Taking this easy step, along with washing your hands often, is the best way to stay healthy this flu season.”

This year’s Canadian flu vaccines will cover three strains: the 2009 H1N1 strain, a new H3N2 strain and an influenza B component, which was included in last year’s vaccine.

Dr. Sicard also reminds Ottawa residents of these key steps to avoid the flu:

• Wash your hands with soap and water, or use hand sanitizer.
• Cover your coughs and sneezes with your arm, not your hand.
• Stay at home if you are sick.

The flu is a serious, infectious respiratory illness that is caused by the highly contagious influenza virus. This virus spreads rapidly from person to person, usually by a simple cough or sneeze. Everyone is at risk! On average, people who get the flu can be bed-ridden from one week to 10 days. According to Health Canada, up to 8,000 people, most of them young children and seniors will die this year due to flu-related complications like pneumonia.

Visit Ottawa.ca/flu or call the Ottawa Public Health Information Line at 613-580-6744 (TTY: 613-580-9656) or 3-1-1 to obtain a list of health care providers and community clinics that are administering the flu vaccine.  You can also follow OPH on Twitter @ottawahealth for the latest public health information.

What is H1N1 flu virus?

The H1N1 is a new version of the flu virus. It is spread from person to person, and causes the same symptoms as regular flu.

H1N1 flu virus was first detected in Mexico last spring. Within just a few months, it spread to many countries around the world, prompting the World Health Organization in June to declare the first global flu pandemic in 41 years. The H1N1 flu virus has affected many Ontarians and this coming flu season it is expected to affect many more.

How does H1N1 flu virus spread?

H1N1 flu spreads like any other flu virus, mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing. People can become infected by touching objects or surfaces with flu viruses on them and then touching their mouth or nose.

Symptoms

H1N1 flu feels very much like the regular seasonal flu. Symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue.

When you should seek medical care

Most cases of H1N1 flu tend to be mild. However, if you do not start to feel better after a few days or if your symptoms get worse, you should either call your health care provider or Telehealth at 1-866-797-0000.

You should call your health care provider immediately if you experience flu symptoms and you:

• are pregnant;
• have heart or lung disease;
• have any other chronic health problem that requires regular medical attention;
• live in a remote or isolated community;
• are elderly or frail; or
• have an illness or are receiving treatments – for example, for diabetes, cancer, or HIV/AIDS – that might affect your immune system.

What to do if your children are sick with flu

If your child is suffering from the flu, you should seek medical care immediately if his or her symptoms improve and then suddenly become worse. In addition, seek care if you notice any of the following signs:

• fast or difficult breathing;
• bluish or dark-coloured lips or skin;
• drowsiness to the point where he or she cannot be easily wakened;
• severe crankiness or not wanting to be held; or
• dehydration – not drinking enough fluids and not going to the bathroom regularly.

How to care for yourself

If you do get the flu, there are some things you can do to make yourself feel better and avoid spreading the virus to others. Stay home and get plenty of rest. Clean your hands frequently with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, particularly after coughing or blowing your nose. To ease the symptoms of flu:

• drink lots of fluids;
• avoid drinks with caffeine;
• take basic pain or fever relievers;
• do not give acetylsalicylic acid (ASA or Aspirin®) to children or teenagers under the age of 16;
• apply heat for short periods of time using a hot water bottle or heating pad to reduce muscle pain;
• take a warm bath;
• gargle with a glass of warm water or suck on hard candy or lozenges;
• use saline drops or spray for a stuffy nose; and
• avoid alcohol and tobacco.

Tips to stay healthy

• Good hand hygiene is the best way to prevent the spread of all flu viruses. Wash your hands with soap and water thoroughly and often.
• Keep an alcohol-based hand sanitizer (gel or wipes) handy at work, home and in your car. It needs to be at least 60% alcohol to be effective.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and throw the tissue out. Cough into your upper sleeve if you don't have a tissue.
• Avoid large crowds of people where viruses can spread easily. Stay home when you are sick.

Keep common surfaces and items clean and disinfected