With a number of people rolling up their sleeves for both a COVID-19 booster and flu vaccine in the weeks ahead, the Medical Health Officer for Kamloops has some advice.

“I would expect to see more flu activity this year so my plan, I am going to go and get a flu shot in one arm, COVID shot in another arm and take it easy over the weekend, and I’ll be protected for the season,” Dr. Carol Fenton said.

Her comments come as a majority of British Columbians over the age of six months will be able to get free flu vaccines after the Thanksgiving long weekend.

Speaking on the NL Noon Report, Fenton urged people to get the vaccine, as B.C. is bracing for a possible surge of influenza infections and COVID-19 cases at the same time this fall.

“It is much too early to tell exactly what activity we’re going to see and which strains, but the very smart people who developed the flu shots for us have done that modelling and they put those strains in the shots that we will be receiving,” she said.

“Even if it is not perfect, there is some protection.”

As for where you’ll be able to get your vaccine?

“We still have the public health clinics up and running but the primary goal for those clinics are getting those folks, especially the children, who can’t get vaccinated at the pharmacy done through there,” Fenton said, noting that is where families could go to get their doses all at once.

“If you are booking for yourself and you are an adult, the fastest and easiest way is probably your local pharmacy.”

You’ll find a list of COVID-19 clinic locations in the Kamloops area here and a list of flu clinics here.