The colder weather has arrived, with the seasonal influenza threat to follow soon. Staff, faculty and students can avoid the dreaded symptoms – cough, fever, chills, sore throat, muscle aches and fatigue – by conveniently getting the influenza vaccine on campus this fall.

“The vaccine is an important step people can take to prevent contracting the flu and suffering from the symptoms that make personal and work activities difficult,” says Dan Langham, Director, Environmental Health and Safety.

Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington (KFL&A) Public Health will hold public walk-in clinics on October 29 and November 26 from 9:30 am to 5 pm at the Queen’s School of Medicine Building (15 Arch Street).

Health, Counselling and Disability Services (HCDS) will host walk-in flu clinics for students every Thursday in November (November 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29) from 1-4:15 pm at the LaSalle Building (146 Stuart Street). Students can book an appointment with a nurse for the flu shot by calling (613) 533-2506. They can also request their flu shot if they have a physician or nurse appointment booked for another reason.

Community members can protect themselves and others from getting the flu by washing their hands regularly, covering their mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, and keeping shared surfaces clean.

For more information on other vaccination clinics in the area and tips for preventing the spread of the flu, visit the KFL&A Public Health website.