Reducing flu rates among seniors should be priority - Sudbury physician

Dr. Janet McElhaney, a physician in Sudbury, thinks reducing flu rates among seniors needs to become a key health care priority in Canada.

McElhaney, who is also the scientific director of the Health Sciences North Research Institute, specializes in seniors' health care.

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She said as people get older, their immune systems get weaker and their bodies are not as able to defend against infections.

"You may get the flu, despite being vaccinated," she said.

"But if you were not vaccinated, you will be much, much sicker, and more likely to be hospitalized with that complication of the influenza illness."

She said seniors need to think about greater risks and complications that can develop from the virus.

Influenza illnesses have been associated with pneumonia, heart attacks and strokes.

McElhaney said studies have shown that getting vaccinated against the flu is key.

"The consequences of not getting vaccinated in an older person are much different than a younger person," she said."I think if we had some messaging around that, it might drive home the point further for seniors."

See Dr. McElhaney discuss advance care plans on Youtube.