39 | O akville B eaver | T hursday,N ovem ber 29,2018 insidehalton.com kids18-19Holiday Camps &Winter Academies Canlan Kids Skating & Hockey ICESPORTS.COM/KIDS Become your best at: OF PLAYER D EVEL OPMENT www.canadianimmigrant.ca/careerfair FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2018 LIVING ARTS CENTRE CENTRE • 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. IN ASSOCIATION WITH PLATINUM SPONSOR GOLD SPONSORS PLATINUM SPONSOR ASSOCIATE SPONSOR WINREGISTER BEFORE NOV. 29FOR YOUR CHANCE TO A YEAR OF PREPAID SERVICE WITH PUBLIC MOBILE ON CANADA'S LARGEST MOBILE NETWORK *Conditions apply. No purchase necessary. • HIRING COMPANIES • RESUMÉ CLINIC • ENGLISH PRONUNCIATION WORKSHOP • HIRING COMPANIES • INSPIRATIONAL SPEAKERS • FREE PROFESSIONAL PHOTO FOR YOUR PROFILE za vaccines decided upon from year to year? from year to year? f In Canada, Alam says, an- nual predictions for the in- fluenza vaccines are identi-fluenza vaccines are identi-f fied based on the outcomes offied based on the outcomes off flu seasons on the other sideflu seasons on the other sidef of the world. Those predictions aid in the design of the Canadian vaccine, which takes about six months to produce. However, due to the fact that the virus mutates, it of- ten becomes tricky to match the vaccine to the virus, as that mutation has to be pre- dicted ahead of time. How effective is the vac- cine? The flu shot only lasts one year, so people must take it annually for it to continue to work, Alam said, adding that those who get the vaccine are protected about 70 per cent of the time. "It keeps priming your immune system each year," she added. What are the different types of vaccines? There are two major types of flu vaccines on the market, Alam said. The trivalent vaccine cov- ers three strains of the flu vi- rus and the quadrivalent, recommended for seniors and high-risk groups, covers four strains.four strains.f The quadrivalent vaccine is particularly designed to target a declining immune system. What are the most com- mon side effects of getting the vaccine? Most often, people who get the influenza vaccine will simply experience a sore arm, Alam said. However, she adds, certain people may feel unwell for a few days asfeel unwell for a few days asf their immune system is be- ing primed. "It takes about seven days for the shot to fully take max-for the shot to fully take max-f imal effect," she added. What are the most serious complications linked to the vaccine? Alam says Guillain-Barré syndrome has been associat- ed with the flu shot, though the chance of a person get- ting the syndrome is ex- tremely rare. The syndrome causes a person's immune system to attack their nerve cells, causing muscle weak- ness. "It's so rare and it's a self- limited illness that goes away on its own, but peopleaway on its own, but peoplea do have to go to the hospital if they feel incredibly weak, especially if they find it diffi- cult to walk, to get the sup- port they need until the syn- drome passes," she said. Another rare side effect to the vaccine is anaphylax- is, Alam added. How is the flu shot dis- tributed to different areas around Ontario? The vaccines are distrib- uted by Public Health Onta- rio to local health care pro- viders based on uptake in that particular area, Alam said, adding that this rate varies from neighbourhood to neighbourhood. "You want to try to bal- ance the needs of the neigh- bourhood with the availabil- ity of the flu shot." What are the most com- mon myths associated with the flu shot? Alam says she most often hears people saying that the flu shot doesn't work, or thatflu shot doesn't work, or thatf they do not require a vaccine because they never get the flu. flu. f "They don't realize that it's kind of a matter of ran- dom luck and also a side ben- efit of the herd immunity that everyone else is provid- ing them," she said. "Be- cause if everyone else gets the flu shot, then they are protected, too. This is the sol- idarity piece." Alam says by and large, the flu shot has worked pret- ty well over the last decade or so to prevent any major epidemic. "I have seen it save lives and that is why I highly rec- ommend it," she said. "These deaths from the flu, these hospitalizations from the flu, major illnesses from the flu (are preventable). Even for a young healthy person, missing a week or two of work is a huge deal for people who have to pay their mortgages or take care of their parents and their kids. There are a number of rea- sons why getting a flu shot just makes sense." NEWS Continued from page 38 THE STORY BEHIND THE STORY: It's important to dispel the myths of the dangers of the flu vaccine, which saves untold number of lives each year. SUBMIT YOUR LOCAL HOLIDAY EVENTS AT INSIDEHALTON.COM