Maximize the protection of your flu shot with these simple tricks

(NC) It can take a few weeks for your body to produce a full immune response after getting your seasonal flu shot. This means that you’re still vulnerable to catching the virus and unwittingly spreading it to friends and family.

Fortunately, there are additional things you can do to help you keep the flu (and other winter-loving viruses) at bay all season long:

• Wash your hands frequently with warm, soapy water
• Regularly clean surfaces in your home and your work area
• Avoid touching your nose, mouth or eyes, especially after touching commonly infected surfaces like door handles, light switches and handrails
• Avoid large crowds and keep your distance from people who are showing symptoms of the flu

Unlock extra protection through the high-dose flu vaccine

If you’re aged 65 or older, your immune system response to the flu shot is not as strong as it would be in someone younger. Older adults may get more benefit from the high-dose flu shot, which has four times the usual dose and is available upon request from health-care providers.

In some provinces, the high-dose flu shot is covered for all seniors. In others, it is covered only in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. Ask your health-care provider if your province covers the shot, and if it is right for you.

Sick? Stay home

The flu vaccine is not 100 per cent effective at preventing all cases of the flu. However, people who have been vaccinated tend to get less sick than people who haven’t. In other words, when you roll up your sleeve for the shot, you’re not only reducing your risk of catching the flu, but also reducing your risk of serious complications that could otherwise land you in the hospital.

Watch out for these symptoms, and prevent the spread of the flu by staying home if you start to experience them: sudden fever, cough and muscle aches; headaches; chills; fatigue (tiredness); loss of appetite; sore throat; runny or stuffy nose; diarrhea, nausea or vomiting – most common in kids.

Together, we can reduce the spread of the flu. Learn more at lungontario.ca/vaccines.