Health Unit encourages Peterborough residents to get flu shots

With flu season just around the corner, Peterborough Public Health is encouraging residents to get vaccinated for the flu.

“The best time to get the flu shot is before flu season gets here, it takes two weeks for the vaccine to be effective, so the sooner you get the vaccine, the better,” said Marilyn Mitchell, a registered nurse at the health unit.

Mitchell said about 25 per cent of the population is at risk for complications due to the flu. Elderly residents and small children are also at risk.

“That’s something that we need to keep in mind because that could be a family member, that could be a friend,” Mitchell said.

In an effort to prepare for flu season, Ontario announced funding for 2,000 hospital beds for future flu patients.

Twenty of those will be at Peterborough Regional Health Centre, while both Ross Memorial Hospital and Northumberland Hills Hospital are getting eight beds.