A sponsored feature by Mediaplanet

DECEMBER 2016

COLD VS. FLU Treating your children at home. p04

FIGHTING THE FLUPERSONALHEALTHNEWS.CA

Jude’s LegacyHow a Tragic Death

Inspired One Mother to Promote Flu Prevention.

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Vaccines411.ca is a free online vaccination clinic locator also offering Canadians reliable immunization resources.

N ot sure if you should get the flu or pneumococcal vaccinations?Winter crowds

leave Canadians more likely to have direct or indirect exposure to infected respiratory droplets from coughs, sneezes, and contact with contaminated surfaces. More time indoors means increased expo-sure to the germs that cause in-fluenza and pneumonia, a poten-tially serious complication of the flu, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada.

Approximately 12,200 Cana-dians are hospitalized with the

flu each year, and 3,500 don’t sur-vive. The risk of pneumococcal disease increases as we age — ap-proximately 40 percent of cases occur in people over the age of 60, cites the Canadian Government. The pneumococcal vaccination uses a weakened version of the pneumococcal bacteria to help your body produce protective an-tibodies. Vaccination also reduc-es the risk of death and related complications in hospitalized adults who have community-ac-quired pneumonia, as per the re-port, Canadian Diabetes Associa-tion Clinical Practice Guidelines Expert Committee.

Luckily, we can reduce our risks of developing these illness-es. Vaccination against the sea-sonal flu is recommended by The National Advisory Committee on Immunization for all Canadians

age 6 months and older. Likewise, a one-time pneumococcal vac-cination is advised for children up to 4 years of age, children and teens who have asthma,4 adults who have diabetes, asthma, kid-ney disease, alcoholism, or an immunocompromising disease, those who smoke cigarettes, and people over 65 years of age.

Vaccines411 wants to see more Canadians protected and help re-duce the suffering that the nas-ty flu bug can cause. To date more than half a million Canadians have discovered that finding a vaccinating clinic near them is easy with Vaccines411.ca. Simply

type in your postal code, choose the seasonal category and select the influenza vaccine; you will be directed to a list of vaccinat-ing clinics closest to you offering this year’s flu shot!

The website also provides reli-able flu-related resources, care-fully chosen by the Vaccines411 team, to help you know what to do when you or a loved one has caught the flu bug and how to avoid transmission to others. You will also find up-to-date vaccine safety information.

Know where to go to find your nearest vaccinating clinic, visit www.Vaccines411.ca.

Help Strengthen Canada’s Immune System Know Where to Go for Your Flu Shot!

This used to be Jill Promoli’s favourite time of year. Between Halloween, her birthday in November, Christmas and the birthdays of her young children, the months were filled with love and festivities.

“We like to celebrate and make a big deal out of all these things, be-cause life is short,” she says. But this year, the 34-year-old Missis-sauga mom isn’t sure how she will make it through.

It has been less than a year since Promoli lost her 2-year-old son Jude to a strain of the influenza vi-rus, commonly known as the flu, and she is still coming to terms with the devastating loss.

“I wake up and go to bed every single day remembering that Jude

is not here anymore, and it’s aw-ful,” she says.

Jude’s story Promoli’s twin boys, Thomas and Jude, were a dynamic duo. Jude was the leader. Whatever mis-chief he got into, Thomas would follow. So when Promoli walked into the boys’ nursery and only Thomas popped up from his crib to greet her, she instantly knew something was wrong.

Within an hour of Promoli find-ing her son’s motionless body in his crib, starting compressions, calling paramedics and getting to a hospi-tal, Jude was pronounced dead. It was Mother’s Day weekend.

“Even now with all the informa-tion we have, it’s impossible to wrap our heads around,” says Promoli. “It’s not what you expect to happen, ever.”

Protect each other The coroner determined that though both the twins, as well as Promoli’s older six-year-old daughter Isla had gotten their im-m u n i z a t i o n s , Jude had died of the flu — a viral infec-tion that can be extreme-ly serious for infants, seniors, and those who are i m m u n o c o m-promised. Accord-ing to Statistics Can-ada, the virus kills 3,500 Canadians each year.

Although, as seen in Jude’s tragic case, the flu shot does not

succeed in making everyone im-mune to the infection, Promo-li has made it her mission to ad-

vocate for the vaccine, explaining that it’s

about more than the individual.

“The flu had to be passed along from a lot of peo-ple before it made its way to Jude

in May,” she says. This is

the basis of herd immunity,

the idea that if more people get immunized,

it will help to reduce the overall risk of contracting an illness.

“It’s not just about protecting

ourselves, it’s about protecting the people around us,” says Promoli.

A mother’s message Promoli describes the loss that her family has suffered as “hell on earth,” but she is determined to use Jude’s story to spread in-formation about the importance of getting the flu shot.

With Jude gone, Promoli says she is keeping his memory alive by sharing stories about her viva-cious little boy with her surviv-ing children.

“Jude is not here, but he’s still very much a part of us.”

Ishani Nath

“Approximately 12,200 Canadians are hospitalized with the flu each year, and 3,500 don’t survive.”

PREVENTION Learn how you can protect yourself from the flu. p02

THINKING AHEAD What preventative health means in the long run. p04

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“A flu vaccination offers the most effective way to prevent getting the flu and spreading it to others,” says Hans Epp, a pharmacist for 32 years. “Children, the elderly, and those with chronic health conditions are most vulnerable when it comes to the flu, and it can lead to very serious health complications, including pneumonia.”

It’s not just about youYou can spread the flu virus before show-ing any symptoms. By getting vaccinat-ed you can help prevent the spread of flu to those around you. This can help protect the most vulnerable in our society — in-fants, older adults, and those with chronic health conditions.

According to Dr. Bryna Warshawsky, a physician with Public Health Ontario, on-ly about 30 percent of Canadians get vaccin-ated for the flu each year. Given the import-ance, safety, and convenience of getting a flu shot, it’s a number that health officials would like to see increase. “We would definitely like to see more people get vaccinated,” says Dr. Warshawsky. “It’s about 50–60 percent ef-fective. If you had a 50 percent chance of win-ning the lottery, most people would probably buy a lot of tickets. With a 50 percent effect-iveness at preventing influenza, getting a flu shot will decrease your chances of getting sick and passing infection on to others.”

Stopping the flu is easyEach year, scientists at the World Health Or-ganization try to match the flu vaccine with the most common strains of the virus that are expected to circulate in the upcoming flu season. While most often they are success-

ful, sometimes the virus can change, which can impact how well the vaccine works. And because the strains of flu in the vaccine are usually different from year to year, it’s import-ant to get vaccinated every year.

With pharmacies able to provide the vac-cine, it’s very convenient. “People can walk into any of our Shoppers Drug Mart stores without an appointment booked, or sched-ule one online at Pharmaprix in Quebec, to get a flu shot. They don’t need an appoint-ment,” says Epp. “Our goal is to make it easy for people to stay healthy.” For most Can-adians, the cost of the vaccine is covered by provincial governments.

Dr. Warshawsky says that despite the in-creased awareness of the flu and the ease of vaccinations, there are still lots of miscon-ceptions. “There are very few reasons one shouldn’t get vaccinated. It’s very safe and a good choice to prevent illness, not only for you but those around you,” she says. “And you can’t get the flu from the vaccine.” Dr. Warshawsky adds that pregnant women should get vaccinated to prevent complica-tions in themselves. As well, research has shown that vaccinated pregnant women can pass protection on to the baby before they are born which can protect the baby against flu for several months after birth.

Don’t be the one to get the fluThe flu season typically runs from Oc-tober–April, and the virus can easily be spread through coughing and sneezing. Ap-proximately 5–10 percent of Canadians will get the flu in any given year. For some it will mean missed work and social activity, while for others it can cause more serious compli-cations such as pneumonia, hospitalizations,

and even death. In Canada, it is estimated, on average, about 12,000 people are hospitalized from the flu and about 3,500 die each year.

Given that it takes two weeks following im-munization for protection to take hold, now is the best time to get the flu vaccine before flu activity really takes off. Other things you can do to protect yourself from getting sick include staying active, eating well, and wash-ing your hands regularly. It is also very im-portant to stay home when you are sick to pre-vent spreading flu and other infections to col-leagues and friends at work or school.

“As health professionals, we can’t do it alone. We need the public’s help,” says Epp. “Don’t be afraid to talk to your pharmacist about the facts, science, and benefits of the vaccine. We share a duty to the most vulner-able to prevent the spread of the flu.”

Ken Donohue

To avoid the spread of flu this season, Canadians need to practice what they preach

Ninety percent Canadians agree sick people should steer clear of work and school.i Yet, 64 percent of us admit to knowingly putting our colleagues at risk by going into the office when sick and probably contagious.ii

And we’re not much better with our children. Canadians agree sending sick kids to parties, friends’ houses, or school is a social faux pas.iii But almost a third (30 percent) of Canadian parents admit to having sent their kids to school while sick!

Should I stay or should I go?

Don’t be the hero. Know when a fever is too high and make sure to stay home if your temperature passes 100 degrees. Remember you should be fever-free for at least 24 hours before returning to work or school.

The flu or a cold?

Although symptoms are similar, a cold tends to develop gradually, usually over the course of a day or two and can last up to two weeks. Flu can come out of nowhere and hit hard, with a fever lasting a few days and weakness and tiredness potentially for several weeks. However, it’s hard to tell, so when in doubt just stay home!

Bump, don’t shake.

If it’s just a cold and you choose to go to work, do your colleagues a favour — bump, don’t shake. According to research, shaking hands transmits two times more bacteria than high fives, and 10 times more bacteria than bumping fists.iv

➊Get vaccinated.

No matter where you stand on proper etiquette, flu shots should be part of the plan — it’s your first defense against the flu!

➋ ➌ ➍

Source: i Shoppers Drug Mart Poll 2016, ii Shoppers Drug Mart Poll 2016, iii Shoppers Drug Mart Poll 2016, iv www.health.harvard.edu/blog/fist-bump-better-handshake-cleanliness-201407297305

TIPS ON RELIEVING THE FLU

❺ Since the flu hits with very little notice, preparation is key. There are five things everyone should have in their medicine cabinets to help get ready for flu season, and minimize the impact if they do get sick.

❶ Pain relievers To help with aches and pains caused by the flu.

❷ Decongestants To clear nasal passages so you can breathe more comfortably.

❸ Throat lozenges To help soothe a sore throat.

❹ Cough suppressant Suppressants may relieve dry cough or congested cough symptoms.

❺ Cool-mist vaporizer To add moisture to the air, which helps ease coughing and congestion.

Talk to your pharmacist to help you choose the products that are right for you and your family as some medications could have contraindications with other conditions.

IT TAKES A SECOND TO FIGHT THE FLU

Dr. Bryna WarshawskyPhysician, Public Health Ontario

Hans EppPharmacist

Get yours – it’s time for your annual flu shot.

Simply visit your nearest Shoppers Drug Mart.

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Parents understand that colds and the flu are a normal part of the household when you have children.

As the flu makes an appearance every year, estimates say that children under the age of six may suffer from six to eight bouts every year. Sudbury, ON based family physician Dr. Stephanie Sbrocchi recommends a few ba-sic steps to get ready for the cold and flu season, which runs from September to April. “Teach children to cough or sneeze into their elbow crease and not into their hands,” she says. “Also get enough sleep, eat a healthy diet, be active, and get your flu vaccine.”

Cold versus fluBoth have similar symptoms. They often start with

nasal congestion, fever, cough, and a sore throat. The length of the fever is a strong indicator as to whether it’s a symptom of a cold or the flu.

“A regular cold will typically cause fever for just two to three days, whereas influenza can cause fever for up to seven days, and can also have associated vomiting and diarrhea,” explains Dr. Sbrocchi.

If a fever does not respond to treatment with antipy-retics such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, the child should be assessed by a physician.

Monitoring feverWith the prevalence of fever and its debilitating effects, pa-rents should always have a thermometer on hand. An ear thermometer is handy for taking the temperature of kids who are sleeping or who don’t tolerate an oral one well.

The newest models of thermometers have handy fea-tures, including a fever light-up bar that tells you at a glance if your child has a fever, memory recall to store the last 12 readings so you can track temperature trends and even an indicator to remind users when it’s time to clean the device — which is important to ensure an ac-curate reading every time.

Dr. Sbrocchi recommends that temperatures be as-sessed in children who appear unwell every four to six hours. Fever can leave kids dehydrated so increase their fluid intake until they’re on the mend.

Michele Sponagle

A FAMILY PHYSICIAN HELPS PARENTS KNOW THE DIFFERENCE

Be confident. We’ve got safety covered.

Fever Light™ Ear Thermometeraccurate reading in just 1 secondlarge digital displaylight bar glows when fever detectedmemory recall of past 12 readings

As the brisk winter weather arrives, with it comes the flu. The average healthy adult can recover from the flu after spending a couple of days in bed. But vulnerable populations — such as preg-nant women, children under the age of 5, the elderly and people with chronic health conditions — are at risk for hos-pitalization, developing serious compli-

cations, and even death. “Every year 10–20 percent of the population gets the

flu,” says Dr. Vivien Brown, a leading Toronto-based family physician and President of the Federation of Medical Women of Canada. “The flu is the 6th leading cause of death in Canada, and these are deaths that could be prevented through vaccination.” Getting vac-cinated doesn’t just give you protection, it also protects high-risk members of the community by reducing transmission rates. The flu also affects Canadian busi-nesses — absenteeism, interruption of service to cli-ents and health benefit costs are all real challenges that prompt many businesses to offer onsite vaccina-tion clinics to their employees.

Influenza can destabilize chronic conditions “Even well-managed chronic conditions can be de-stabilized by the flu,” says Dr. Brown. Individuals with asthma, lung disease, heart disease, blood disorders, diabetes, kidney and liver disorders, metabolic dis-orders, or those who have or have had cancer are at the highest risk. But many Canadians who have these conditions in the early stages of their development may not even know it. “Diabetes, heart disease, kidney and liver disease and cancer can all take years or even decades to develop,” says Dr. Brown. Risk factors and early stage disease often go unnoticed. Since many provinces have delisted annual physicals for healthy adults, including Quebec and Ontario, it’s even more important to take a proactive approach to health.

Preventive health can prevent or delay chronic conditionsOrganizations that take a preventive approach to health care, like Dr. Brown’s, seek to identify risk factors at their earliest possible stage and to facilitate positive lifestyle changes to prevent illness and diseases.

Being proactive about your health can involve improving daily habits, seeking out private annual health care assessments to screen for risk factors and early stage disease, and getting immunizations like the flu shot.

Andrea Yu

PREVENTIVE HEALTH SAVES LIVES

“As health professionals, we cant do it alone.

We need the publics help."