Flu
Flu Vaccine
Getting Your Flu Shot
The most effective way to decrease complications and reduce the impact of the flu is to get a flu shot.
Health Canada recommends that everyone 6 months and older get the annual flu vaccine as soon as possible once it becomes available. Protective antibodies to the flu develop about two weeks after receiving the shot. Get your flu shot early so you are protected when the flu virus begins to spread in your community.
A flu shot is your best defense against the flu and can save lives by:
- Protecting you and the people close to you
- Preventing you from getting very sick
- Making you less likely to spread the flu
With COVID-19 circulating in our communities, we will be taking necessary precautions to make sure both you and our staff are well-protected during time spent in our pharmacies. For these safety reasons, the flu shot process will be a little different this year. For instance, some of the changes you may see include:
- Your pharmacy may require you to book an appointment
- You may be required to fill out a flu consent form prior to your appointment
- Staff and community members who aren’t feeling well, are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, have travelled the last 14 days, or have been in close contact with a person with confirmed COVID-19 will not be allowed to enter the pharmacy
- You will be required to wear a mask/face covering
- Pharmacists will wear appropriate protective gear
- Surfaces and high touch areas will be sanitized between appointments
- To ensure physical distancing:
- Pharmacy layout may be different
- Fewer people may be in the pharmacy at one time
Please contact your local Pharmasave store for specific details about getting your flu shot. Look for your Pharmasave location here.
Flu Vaccine Resources:
Flu Prevention
Protecting Yourself and Others
The most effective way to protect yourself and others from the flu is by getting an annual flu shot.
There are also many other actions you can take to prevent getting and spreading the flu including:
- Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
- Don’t touch your face, especially the mouth, nose and eyes
- Regularly clean and disinfect common surfaces
- Avoid crowds
- Don’t share personal items and drinks
- Support your immune system through healthy lifestyle choices such as staying physically active and eating healthy meals
- Take your multivitamins and vitamin C
- Get enough sleep
- Manage stress levels
Flu Prevention Resources:
Cold, Flu or COVID-19
Symptom Comparison
It’s easy to confuse cold, flu and COVID-19 symptoms because they can seem quite similar. We’ve gathered some resources that can help you understand more about the differences.
Influenza (Flu) and COVID-19 are both contagious respiratory illnesses, but they are caused by different viruses. Flu and COVID-19 share many characteristics and because some of the symptoms are similar, it’s easy to get them confused. For instance, common symptoms of flu and COVID-19 are fever, cough, aches and pains.
If you’re unsure whether you have the flu or COVID-19, please speak to your healthcare provider or use the online provincial COVID-19 self-assessment tools.
Click here for our Cold, Flu and COVID-19 symptom comparison chart.
Resources to Help Tell the Difference Between Flu & COVID-19:
Ownership contacts
How to Feel Better
Fighting the Flu
When you have the flu or are not feeling well, the best thing for you to do is make yourself cozy and to rest comfortably at home while you recover. To help keep others from getting sick too, it’s important to stay home even if your symptoms (fever, cough, aches, etc.) seem better as a result of medication you’ve taken.
To help you feel better and recover from the flu at home, drink plenty of fluids, get lots of rest, use a humidifier and make sure you have flu season health essentials on hand, including:
- Acetaminophen for fever, headache and minor aches and pains
- Decongestants to relieve congestion and clear nasal passages
- Sprays or lozenges to soothe a sore throat
Speak with your Pharmasave pharmacist about flu shots, prevention, appropriate symptom relief and other ways to stay healthy this flu season.
Resources To Help You Feel Better:
Tools
Helpful Tips and Resources
Check out our flu resources, including tools such as checklists and articles, to help answer questions you may have about the flu.
For additional information, be sure to contact your local Pharmasave pharmacist.
- Flu Shot After-care Checklist
- Cold, Flu and COVID-19 Symptom Comparison Chart
- Flu Health Essentials
- General Information and Resources for COVID-19
- A health guide to vitamins and minerals: A to Zinc
- Pharmasave Brand featured cold and flu products
- Cold and flu symptom calculator
- Cough and cold health articles
- Flu health articles
More Information
Where to find more information about Influenza:
If you are looking for resources and information about Influenza (Flu), the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) has the most up-to-date information to help you stay current on the evolving health situation.
- Public Health Agency of Canada:
- Immunize Canada:
Here are some provincial sources of Influenza (Flu) information:
