Patients packing PRHC ER
All the more reason to get flu shot, medical officer of health says
Getting the flu shot this year could help keep more hospital beds available for those who really need them.
Peterborough Regional Health Centre continues to see patient volumes above 100 per cent of the hospital’s bed capacity moving into December.
The hospital opened 24 new inpatient beds in the fall to help address the shortfall (PRHC has been running over 100 per cent capacity for the past year) but it wasn’t enough.
Emergency Department volumes are gauged to reach 90,000 this year, compared to 83,000 in 2016, according to PRHC.
With flu season approaching, medical officials are encouraging residents to get the flu shot to protect themselves, others and valuable resources.
“The hope is we can keep people out of the hospital, which is already quite busy, and so we want to protect those resources in the hospital for the people who really need it most,” said Dr. Rosana Salvaterra, Peterborough Public Health’s medical officer of health.
Free flu shots are offered at doctor’s offices, clinics and many pharmacies in the city and county.
The health unit is focusing on administering shots to children under the age of five, because pharmacists aren’t able to do so.
PRHC’s Pediatric Urgent Care Clinic (POP) is offering extended after-hours care throughout December. The POP clinic serves kids under 18 months with urgent by non-life-threatening injuries or illnesses.
Since Peterborough hasn’t seen an outbreak of influenza yet – though there have been sporadic cases – Salvaterra said there’s still time to get the shot.
Immunization takes two weeks to kick in, so it’s best to get it sooner than later.
Though it’s not 100 per cent foolproof, the shot will reduce the likelihood of contraction and hopefully its effects if contracted, Salvaterra said.
By getting the shot, people are also helping to protect those who’re most vulnerable in the community, such as seniors, people with chronic illnesses, children under two, and pregnant women in their last trimester. They’re at greater risk of hospitalization, severe illness and death.
If citizens who’re at high risk get the flu, they should seek medical attention as soon as possible.
Antivirals could be prescribed to help combat the virus, but they have to be taken within the first 24 to 48 hours.
Anyone who suspects they have the flu, should wear a mask when seeking treatment at any office, clinic or hospital.
But not all respiratory viruses are the flu, however. Influenza is one of hundreds of respiratory viruses and the flu shot will only protect people against certain strains.
“It’s not a magical bullet, but it will help.”
Though it’s often said that the flu shot can give someone the flu, Salvaterra said that’s not true.
“It is a myth that you can get the flu from the flu shot.”
NOTE: Registered nurses can be reached by calling Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-000 for advice on whether or not to seek medical care.