Richmond Terrace ready for influenza season
Wednesday, October 20, 2004 - Roderick Benns
A series of clinics and in-services centred on the influenza vaccine begin tonight at Richmond Terrace long-term care home in Amherstburg, as the facility readies itself for flu season.

Infection control nurse Lynda Pigeon says one of the facility’s doctors will be on hand to administer the flu vaccine to staff members who attend.

"It should be an informative in-service," says Pigeon.

Then, Oct. 26, a doctor and two registered staff from the 115-bed facility will immunize residents first thing in the morning while residents are still in their beds.

On Nov. 3, says Pigeon, another in-service will be held in the home which will also be a clinic for staff members to receive the flu shot and any family members who wish to get it as well.

"Our supplies are ready, we’re ready – we’re prepared," says Pigeon.

For the last two years there have been no respiratory outbreaks in the home, although there were some cases of diarrhea and vomiting last season.

"We just never know what we’re going to get until you get farther into the season more," says Pigeon.

Pigeon says the number of residents taking the flu shot was quite high last year, "about 95 per cent." For staff, Pigeon says she didn’t have those numbers handy but says it was actually "on the low side for staff."

"But we certainly try to educate staff" members that this is the best thing to do, she says.

According to the Community and Hospital Infection Control Association (CHICA) influenza in Canada for the 2004-2005 season has begun with four outbreaks in Ottawa area long-term care homes. All outbreaks were due to the Influenza A virus.

The flu can be distinguished from the common cold (which is also caused by viruses) because it generally results in a more severe illness, with a sudden onset of headache, chills and cough followed rapidly by a fever, appetite loss, muscle aches, and tiredness.

Cold symptoms, on the other hand, generally involve the upper respiratory tract with runny nose, sneezing, watery eyes, and throat irritation, and disappear in a few days. Influenza typically lasts a week to 10 days.