(Image Credit: CFJC News)

By Sydney Chisholm

flu shots

Flu shots are here – one of three jabs Kamloops-area residents might need this fall

Oct 16, 2024 | 6:00 PM

KAMLOOPS – It’s that time of year again — flu shots are now available at your local pharmacy.

All B.C. residents 6 months of age or older can get a free flu vaccine.

This year’s shot protects against the Victoria, Austria and Thailand strains.

The new vaccine was rolled out Tuesday (Oct. 15) in B.C. and already bookings throughout the city have been filling up.

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“Everyone wants to get their vaccines, like, right away,” explained Julie Ford, owner and pharmacist at Pharmasave Aberdeen. “It’s okay to wait a little bit, too. You don’t have to rush in to get your flu vaccine the first few weeks.”

Ford says the flu season usually lasts until January.

“You can wait a few weeks into October or November to get the vaccines and we won’t run out,” said Ford. “There’s always a big rush at the beginning, but the province has a lot of vaccines, so we are not going to run out.”

Influenza is often the biggie this time of year, but it’s not the only virus going around, says Ford. She suggests residents double up on jabs when they go to the pharmacy and get immunized against the flu, the new strain of COVID-19, and — if you’re over 60 — RSV as well.

“We like to say there’s three main viruses – influenza and COVID, and then the third one being RSV, which a lot of people have probably heard about in the news,” said Ford. “RSV is more of a respiratory virus and it might appear to be like flu and have the same symptoms as flu. It’s actually quite hard to differentiate. But now that we have a vaccine for it, especially if you’re over 60 years of age, it’s highly recommended that you get it.”

RSV is not covered by a public campaign and the cost varies between pharmacies.

Interior Health declined an interview on the new campaign but offered up a statement.

“This is the time when it is so important to remember healthy habits we can all follow to protect ourselves, our loved ones and our communities – that includes covering your cough with your elbow, cleaning your hands regularly, staying away from others if you have a cough or a fever, wearing a mask if you have lingering symptoms or need extra protection, and getting the updated influenza and COVID-19 vaccines,” said the statement.