Vaccination Clinics
If you get sick, you might miss out on what’s important to you—school, work, social events. You could be sick for over a week, and that’s no fun for anyone.
“Cold and flu” season generally occurs in the fall and winter but can occur as early as October and as late as May. Even healthy people can get very sick from flu, COVID-19, or other respiratory viruses and spread them to others. Getting the appropriate vaccines is your best protection.
Public Health Clinics
Flu and COVID-19 shots can be obtained through public clinics occurring off-campus or through a pharmacy.
Interior Health sets up flu and COVID-19 vaccination clinics in the fall. In the later part of the flu season (i.e. from December to March), vaccinations are available by appointment only.
Please check out HealthLinkBC for more information and to locate related services. You can also call Public Health Flu Information Line for further information (250) 868-7715.
About vaccinations
While other healthy habits (such as hand-washing) are important, flu and COVID-19 vaccines have a very good safety track record and are the best defence to beat the flu or COVID-19.
The shots are safe, and they work— they are the best way to avoid getting sick, and prevent passing it on.
By getting a flu or COVID-19 shot, not only do you protect yourself, but you also protect those around you too. You can be contagious even if you don’t have symptoms.
No matter how healthy you are, everyone can get sick.
Between 10–20% of Canadians will get the flu this year—that’s millions of people! Virus spread is especially rapid on university campuses because we work, study and socialize so closely. No one is superman so it pays to protect yourself.
For more info on vaccine safety and effectiveness, visit these health websites:
- Healthlink BC: Influenza (Seasonal Flu) and COVID-19
- Government of Canada: Flu (influenza) and COVID-19
Reasons you should care about the flu and COVID-19
- Getting sick can take you away from what’s important to you. Most people who get sick are sick for over a week. That’s potentially more than seven days of potentially missing work, social functions and fitness activities.
- Flu season begins when people start getting sick. This year, there are signs that the flu season could start early and could hit hard.
- Some illnesses are highly contagious and can spread quickly and easily from person-to-person especially on university campuses.
- Passing an illness onto family members could mean additional time away from work if you need to care for them.
- The flu is not the common cold and is nothing to sniff at. In fact, it can affect everyone, including those who are healthy.
- Every year over 12,000 Canadians are hospitalized and 3,500 die from the flu.
- Nobody likes to be sick!
- The best way to avoid getting sick is to get the appropriate vaccinations. It’s safe and it works.