Flu clinics 2022-23
This is the first year both influenza and COVID-19 will be circulating broadly within our communities at the same time. That’s because for the last couple of years, cases of the flu were rare due to the widespread use of COVID-19 prevention measures such as masking and social distancing. With the relaxing of restrictions around COVID-19, cases of influenza are expected to rise.
Getting the flu shot, as well as ensuring your COVID-19 booster is up to date, are the most effective ways to reduce illness and complications from these diseases and can significantly lower the risk of potentially contracting influenza and COVID-19 at the same time, which could cause severe illness, especially for at-risk individuals.
Getting the flu shot is also an important way to help protect yourself, your family and vulnerable people in your community against seasonal influenza. It will also help to reduce the impact on the health-care system in the event of a potential surge of influenza or COVID-19 cases.
Getting a flu shot is important every year, and particularly important during the COVID-19 pandemic. While the flu shot will not protect against COVID-19, it will help reduce the risk of getting the flu which, if combined with COVID-19, could result in a higher risk for severe illness.
Getting vaccinated will also help reduce the spread of influenza in our communities and help reduce the impact on the health-care system.
Influenza vaccination clinics will begin to roll throughout the region starting Monday, October 17, 2022.
Clinics are by appointment only
- Appointment times, as well dates and locations for flu clinics, can be found on Government of Newfoundland and Labrador’s website – https://www.timefortheshot.ca/. Those who cannot book online can call 1-833-951-3904 (toll-free).
- Once an appointment is booked online, clients will receive email confirmation. An automated email reminder will be sent 48 hours prior to the appointment, if applicable.
Group/family bookings
- Those booking for a group of people, i.e., family members, must book a separate appointment for each individual, regardless of whether the booking is made online or via the toll-free number.
- If back-to-back appointments are preferred but not available at time of booking, those with confirmed separate appointments can arrive at the clinic together and will be accommodated wherever possible.
About the clinics
- Please note that influenza and COVID-19 vaccine clinics are operated separately and, as a result, clients will only receive the vaccine they initially scheduled an appointment for.
- Once at the appointment location, please follow signage as well as any further information staff may provide onsite.
- All individuals over the age of five must wear a mask in the clinic, unless a medical condition that prevents them from doing so.
- Please bring your MCP card and wear a short-sleeved shirt.
For frail or homebound clients only
- Very frail or homebound individuals who cannot travel to a public flu clinic or visit a pharmacist or doctor can arrange a home visit by calling the Community Support Program at 1-833-752-4167, or their local Community Health Office from Monday – Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Contact numbers for local community health offices can be found on the Eastern Health website at https://www.easternhealth.ca/contactus/#Community
Flu shots are also available at no cost through local pharmacies and family physicians.