It's more important than ever
for Defence Team members
and their families
to receive their annual
flu shot this year
in light
of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Today, Major-General
Marc Bilodeau,
Surgeon General for the Canadian
Armed Forces joins me
to speak more on the benefits
of the flu vaccine.
Thank you very much
for joining us, sir.
Why is it so important
that Defence Team members
and their families receive
the seasonal flu vaccine?
With the flu season
fast approaching,
there is growing concern
among health professionals
of a "twindemic".
A "twindemic" would be
an overlap of the flu season
and a second wave of COVID-19
cases this fall and winter.
In light of COVID-19
precautions,
any respiratory infection,
such as the flu or common cold
could lead to you or your family
having to stay home from work,
school and public spaces.
Also, if someone with COVID-19
gets the flu,
they could have worse symptoms
like coughing and sneezing
that makes them more likely
to spread the infection.
Not only will the flu shot
help to keep you
and your family members healthy,
it will reduce burden
on our healthcare system
by helping to ensure hospitals
are not trying to care
for the flu
and COVID-19 patients
at the same time.
Finally, by reducing the amount
of respiratory viruses
in circulation,
it will reduce the requirement
for using limited testing
capability
to roll out COVID-19 infection.
When and where can Defence Team
members and their families
get their annual flu shot?
Regular Force CAF members
can attend a flu shot clinic
through their Canadian Forces
Health Services Centre.
Please rest assured
that clinics will adhere
to COVID-19
public health measures
when administering flu vaccines.
More information
about flu shot clinics
will follow
in the upcoming weeks.
Class A and Class B reservists
on short-term contracts
and their families can access
the flu vaccine
through their provincial
healthcare systems.
Civilian employees
can get a flu shot
through their healthcare
provider,
a local clinic or at a pharmacy.
The department is also exploring
offering the flu vaccine
for civilian employees at bases
and wings around the country.
In the event
that the flu vaccine
is not offered free of charge,
the expense can be claimed
under the Public Service
Health Care Plan.
How can Defence Team members
and their families
safely get the flu shot
while avoiding
large gatherings of people?
Flu shot clinics,
whether through Canadian
Forces Health Services Centres
or through provincial
healthcare system
will be delivered in line with
COVID-19 public health measures.
This will includes:
not allowing anyone who is sick
to receive the vaccine;
ensuring physical distancing
is respected;
avoiding having large crowds
for clinics;
asking people to wear a mask
and stay 2 metres apart;
and obviously washing
at the arrival
and departure of the clinic.
In addition to getting
the vaccine,
what other health measures
should be taken
during flu season this year?
It's important to remember
that in addition to getting
the annual flu shot,
other public health measures
are equally as important
to fight the spread
of influenza, the flu,
and COVID-19.
This includes
maintaining a 2 metres physical
distance from each other,
wearing a mask
when out in public,
frequently washing your hands
and practicing cough
and sneeze etiquette.
Lastly, if you are sick,
it's important to stay home,
avoid infecting others and
call your health care providers
to determine
if you should be tested.
Is there anything else
you'd like to add?
I'd like to thank all members
of the Defence Team
for everything they are doing
in the fight against COVID-19
and ask them to once again
apply the same vigilance
and dedication when it comes
to this flu season
by getting their flu shot.
Thank you very much
for joining us today,
Major-General Bilodeau.
♪