RRC Polytech offers flu vaccinations at Winnipeg campuses
By Kaydence Michalsky
Red River College Polytechnic is preparing for the upcoming flu season by hosting a series of vaccine clinics.
According to the World Health Organization, flu season mainly occurs from October to March.
RRC Polytech will administer the annual flu vaccine clinic at three different campuses.
The Government of Canada encourages everyone six months and older to get the flu shot to help reduce the risk of infection and spread. They also recommend getting the vaccine between October and December – before the flu spreads too much.
Some RRC Polytech students have mixed feelings about the vaccine.
“I am planning on getting it as I work at a daycare center,” said RRC Polytech student Allison Kibsey. “I want to protect myself and the children I take care of during the day.”
Connor Wolfe, another student attending RRC Polytech, said he won’t be getting the vaccine.
“Worst case scenario, I get sick for a few days and build antibodies to fight it,” he said.
The clinic at Notre Dame campus will be running Oct. 27, Oct. 28, and Nov. 4 in the South Gym, the Stevenson campus clinic will be held Nov. 8 in the Resource Room, and the clinic at the Exchange District campus will be on Nov. 9 in room P107.
All clinics will run from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. and are available to RRC Polytech staff, students, and affiliates only.
Registered nurses from the Health Services staff will be administering the vaccine at all locations. Some clinics have also enlisted the help of staff and students from the nursing program to help give vaccines.
Students who took the micro-credential program through RRC Polytech will not be helping. The program trained students to administer a COVID-19 vaccine, not a flu vaccine.
Getting the flu vaccine can prevent you from getting sick, protect others, reduce additional stress on the health care system, and lower the chances of being infected with COVID-19 and the flu at the same time, which can cause serious complications.
According to the Government of Canada, an average of 3,500 people die and 12,200 are hospitalized each year relating to the flu.
The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said getting the annual flu vaccine will lower the risk of going to the doctor for flu-related symptoms by 40 to 60 per cent.
Side effects of the vaccine may include soreness, redness, or swelling at the injection site, headache, fever, nausea, and muscle aches and pains.
