Why I got my flu shot in January

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Now that I’m back on the mend from shingles, the very last thing I need is to end up with extreme fatigue, fever, headache, muscle aches, a sore throat and a cough!

With that in mind, two weeks ago I visited Shoppers Drug Mart on Joseph Howe Drive in Halifax, without an appointment of any kind, and got my flu shot.

It was a great visit and I met the lovely pharmacist, Nidhi, who graduated from Pharmacy in India in 2014, moved to Canada where she enrolled in a Pharmacy Technician course in Toronto to learn about all of the differences between the two countries… and is a newly licensed pharmacist as of January 1st!!!

This is the latest I have EVER gotten my flu shot which really begs the question…how late is too late? I asked Nidhi and she responded, “Have you had the flu? Because if you haven’t, then it’s not too late to get a flu shot!”

Flu season runs from October to April and the way I see it… that’s two and a half more months of needing every advantage possible to help fight off influenza… and the number one way to do that is to GET A FLU SHOT… BUT, it takes up to two weeks for the vaccine to take effect so HURRY TO SHOPPERS DRUG MART NOW!

I’m especially vulnerable to the flu bug at the moment, as I have a chronic health condition to begin with and my immune system is pretty much shot. Between various sinus infections and then contracting shingles, I simply wasn’t able to get my vaccine until now, so I’m pretty pleased that I managed to finally get it!

I had a chat with Dr. Shelly McNeil, service chief for the Division of Infectious Diseases  at the Nova Scotia Health Authority, who said that:

“Flu is still on the rise in NS. It’s particularly important to get kids vaccinated as H1N1 is circulating which has been causing severe illness and death in children.”

Bottom line… to help avoid the flu this season you need to eat well, strengthen your immune system, wash your hands, stay home when you’re sick and get the flu shot… it’s not too late!

Bonus: Top 5 tips for preventing the spread of germs

Eat well: It’s important to make healthy food choices all year, but even more so during cold and flu season to ensure you’re getting the nutrients your body needs.

Strengthen your immune system: Getting adequate sleep (7 to 8 hours each night), drinking plenty of fluids (at least 8 glasses of water each day), eating healthy foods, and staying active will go a long way in staying healthy throughout the cold and flu season.

Wash your hands: To limit the spread of germs, wash your hands frequently throughout the day.

Know when to stay home: Know when a fever is too high and make sure to stay home if your temperature exceeds 100 degrees. Remember you should be fever-free for at least 24 hours before returning to work or school.

Get the flu shot: No matter where you stand on proper etiquette, the flu shot should be part of the plan, it’s your first defense against the flu! Depending on how well the vaccine is matched to this year’s common viruses, 70-90 per cent of flu cases can be averted through vaccination.

GIVEAWAY FROM SHOPPERS DRUG MART:

To help take care of your family this cold and flu season, Shoppers Drug Mart and Curtains are Open are hosting a giveaway… a chance to win a Cold & Flu Prize Pack including a ONE HUNDRED DOLLAR gift card! The prize package includes:

  • Life Brand Hand Sanitizer
  • Cough Drops
  • Electrolyte Maintenance Powder
  • Disinfectant Wipes
  • Digital Thermometer
  • PC Chicken Noodle Soup
  • PC Lemon Ginger Tea
  • PC Stainless Steel Insulated Hot or Cold Water Bottle
  • Facial Tissues
  • $100 SDM Gift Card

To enter, fill out the form below and leave a comment on the blog post on how you prevent spreading germs! You can tweet once per day for more chances to win using #ShoppersFluCrew! Good Luck!

Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Shoppers Drug Mart. As always, opinions are my own.

88 Replies to “Why I got my flu shot in January”

  2. no, I did not – for no particular reason – if I was in the right place at the right time, and someone offered it to me, I would have – but I don’t go out of my way to get the flu shot

  4. I haven’t yet, but I’m thinking about it. There’s a horrid strain going around town.

  8. No, I didn’t get my flu shot this year. I have taken it in the past and had an allergic reaction both times.

  13. 1) I cannot believe you got the shingles this year. So many people I know got them this year already 🙁 Scares me.
    2) I didn’t get the flu shot yet, but I am scared enough this year to get it. I can honestly say I haven’t been a wholehearted believer in it in years past. But, this year? We’re going as soon as my son is finished with his lung hacking cough.
    3) I’m a teacher, so I’m constantly washing my hands (and applying hand cream as a result) and I’m a firm believer in oil of oregano to help ward off germs. And vitamins, too! AND ALL THE LYSOL WIPES!!!!

  19. Unfortunately I did not get my flu shot this year, I was undecided on it. But watching the news & hearing the stories of how serious the flu is this year has been and the suffering it has caused others has made me regret my indecisiveness.

  24. Yes, I got my flu shot this year. It’s important not just for me but for those who are vulnerable.

  34. Yes, I got my flu shot! I’m immunocomprimised so I get it every year, as well as my kids, husband, etc. We stop the spread of germs by washing our hands every time we come in the house.

  40. Oh YES the whole family got their flu shots this year and even took my mom to get hers. We have been getting the flu shots for years and so far have not gotten hit by it.
    Thanks for the chance.

  52. I get the flu shot every year and this year is no exception. I so hate to catch it or even spread to others.

  54. I have gotten my flu shot this year and every year for decades! I have a serious respiratory condition that makes the flu deadly for me. My husband gets the shot too to help protect me.

  58. no there is egg in it ad both me and my son have egg allergies so nope i did not get the flu shot

  61. Wow! Yes I did get the flu shot and so did my family. It’s a big deal for us since we seem to stay healthy a lot and don’t really get the flu when we get the shot…..(touch wood ..lol). 🙂

  63. Yes! we all did except for my 6 month old because she is too young but my husband, my other two daughters and myself got it a couple months ago

  69. No, I didn’t get mine. They weren’t made very accessible where I live. Times were limited and usually during the work day. The one day I did try to get it, the wait was over 2 hours. 🙁

  76. I didn’t because I kept getting colds in both December and January, so I just didn’t have any days that I was well enough to do it.

  83. We did get our flu shots. The main reason is my daughter has a surgery scheduled in February that she has waited 10 months for so we wanted to make sure she does not get sick and miss the surgery.