Flu season is looming, and healthcare workers are strongly urged to get vaccinated as the best way to protect themselves and their patients.
By getting vaccinated, healthcare providers help reduce the risk of spreading the flu virus to patients and exposing them to serious illness or even death.
While people in good health are more likely to successfully fight the flu, the virus can be life-threatening for some. Healthcare workers often look after people at high risk for flu-related complications.
Canadian health authorities estimate that the flu causes 12,200 hospitalizations and 3,500 deaths in the country each year.
A significant number of our CIUSSS users belong to higher-risk groups. These include residents in long-term care facilities, people over 75, pregnant women, and patients with chronic illnesses such as cardiac or respiratory problems, diabetes, cancer, or immune deficiency.
The best way to prevent the flu is to get the flu vaccine, which is safe and effective. Most people do not have any side effects and severe reactions are very rare.
Vaccination is offered to all CIUSSS West-Central Montreal staff during the entire seasonal flu period.
To consult vaccination dates at sites within the CIUSSS, visit the Intranet site. Additional vaccination dates will be announced in the next few weeks.
