In this week’s news headlines, many Canadian newspapers are covering stories about the impact of the influenza virus as flu season is now in full swing. For example, the Department of Health and Social Services in Yukon is reporting a higher than average number of flu cases this year, with more severe cases than in recent years. The flu is also hitting Calgary hard this year, where the first reported flu death of the year was confirmed this week. Health officials across the country are encouraging Canadians to get the influenza vaccine, given mounting research evidence supporting the benefits of the flu shot. Older adults are at higher risk for complications from influenza and the flu is a major cause of hospitalization, pneumonia and death among our senior population. Canadian targets aim for 80% of older adults to get the flu shot to help prevent the spread of infection. Have you had your flu shot yet?
Read more about this topic in our evidence-based resources below.
Flu watch
Featured Resources
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Blog Post: 'Tis the season...Have you had your flu shot yet?
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Blog Post: Does vitamin C help with the common cold?
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Web Resource Rating: Flu, chills and other ills: A wintry round-up of Cochrane evidence
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Web Resource Rating: Can oseltamivir (Tamiflu) prevent complications?
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Evidence Summary: Effectiveness of influenza vaccination in institutionalized older adults: A systematic review
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Evidence Summary: Flu vaccine reduces cardiovascular events
DISCLAIMER: These summaries are provided for informational purposes only. They are not a substitute for advice from your own health care professional. The summaries may be reproduced for not-for-profit educational purposes only. Any other uses must be approved by the McMaster Optimal Aging Portal (info@mcmasteroptimalaging.org).
Many of our Blog Posts were written before the COVID-19 pandemic and thus do not necessarily reflect the latest public health recommendations. While the content of new and old blogs identify activities that support optimal aging, it is important to defer to the most current public health recommendations. Some of the activities suggested within these blogs may need to be modified or avoided altogether to comply with changing public health recommendations. To view the latest updates from the Public Health Agency of Canada, please visit their website.
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