Brantford, ON – Tyson Benn thinks everyone who can should get the free flu shot. “It’s definitely not worth getting sick,” says the 27-year-old. Currently doing a social work student placement at the Brantford General Hospital, Benn believes strongly in getting the flu shot to help protect his co-workers and patients. Plus, “You can pretty much get them anywhere now,” he says. “Just get one.”
“The flu shot is your best defense against the flu,” says Richard Hesch, public health nurse at the Brant County Health Unit. Highly contagious, the flu virus spreads easily by direct contact or through the air by coughing and sneezing.
People six months and older can get the flu shot. Getting the shot helps protect young children, older adults, pregnant women and other vulnerable people who are more likely to be very ill from the flu. “We say, ‘get the flu shot, get it early’ because it can take up to two weeks for the body to build up immunity after the vaccine is given, and you want to get that protection for yourself and others before the flu is in our community,” says Hesch.
For more information and to find a nearby location to get the free flu shot, please visit www.ontario.ca/flu.
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