Brant’s medical officer of health is urging residents to get their COVID-19 and flu vaccines ahead of the holiday gathering season.
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Her advice follows the Brant County Health Unit’s reporting of five recent deaths due to COVID-19. They include two women in their 80s, a woman over 100, and two men in their 80s. Three were in hospital at the time of their deaths. One of the deaths involved transmission associated with an outgoing COVID-19 outbreak at St. Joseph’s Lifecare Centre.
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There are currently 29 Brantford-Brant residents hospitalized with COVID-19 and 14 active outbreaks in high-risk settings across the community.
“Influenza circulation in our community is also expected to rise over the coming holiday and New Year’s season as more residents gather indoors,” said Dr. Rebecca Comley, medical officer of health.
“The best time to receive both an updated COVID-19 booster and a flu shot is now. It takes 10 to 14 days for protection from these vaccines to take effect, so it’s important to act now to be protected as we move into holiday gathering season.”
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Both the COVID-19 vaccines and the flu shots are available to everyone six months of age and older at no cost, regardless of citizenship or immigration status, even if you don’t have an Ontario health card, said a news release from the health unit.
The COVID-19 and flu shots, which can be received together, are available at community pharmacies across Brantford-Brant. The Brant County Health Unit continues to operate COVID-19 community vaccine clinics by appointment only.
Comley said the flu shot “is a secure and effective method to shield yourself and others from the flu.”
“With a 50 percent reduction in the risk of severe flu complications, this vaccine is a reliable defense. It’s important to note that the flu shot doesn’t contain any live virus, eliminating the possibility of contracting the flu from the vaccine.”
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