The Dauphin Clinic Pharmacy's flu shot clinic starts Monday and will run for the next two weeks at the DCP Annex in the parking lot.
It'll be open on weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. for those aged 5 and up.
Pharmacist Barret Procyshyn says that people should get a flu shot because it not only protects them against the influenza virus but also prevents it from being spread to those around them.
"Whether that's friends or family... [who] maybe are immunocompromized or are a little bit older or are at a high risk from asthma or COPD, you really want to prevent the flu from spreading in the Parkland area and you can do your part by getting the shot," he adds.
Procyshyn went on to say that the flu shot has been proven to be very safe and that people have been getting it for decades with little to no side effects.
"Some things you can expect are a little bit of injection-site pain [and a] sore arm. Some people get a little bit of flu-like symptoms. You can't actually get the flu from the flu shot, but you can get a... headache, nausea, and [you might feel]... off for a day or less," he adds.
What should I do before going to the flu shot clinic?
Before going to the clinic, people should wear a short-sleeve shirt and have their health card. No appointments are necessary and shots will only be delivered on a walk-in basis.
Who is eligible to receive a flu shot?
Anyone staying in Manitoba is eligible to receive a free flu shot and people aged 65 and older are able to get a high-dose flu shot, which is specifically tailored for that age group. There is no injection fee.
What if I'm new to the province and don't have a Manitoba health card?
People without a Manitoba health card are still able to receive a flu shot at no cost. They can simply present their out-of-province health card, so that the flu shot can get recorded into the pharmacy's system under the out-of-province health card number.
