Skip the flu this winter by getting a flu shot


Winter is here and with it, the flu. Having flu can lead to anything from a light case of not quite feeling well and light sinus symptoms like a runny nose, to serious complications like pneumonia and bronchitis. So why take the chance of getting sick when you can be vaccinated?

The flu shot is the best defence against flu

You may have had the flu vaccine last winter, but remember that you need to have it again. You need a new vaccination every year because the flu changes each year and the vaccine only protects you against that year’s strain of flu. The vaccine prepares your immune system for that year’s flu. You either don’t get the flu at all or you will have a lighter version of the flu than what you would have contracted without having the vaccination.

Why you need protection

It is easy to confuse the early stages of flu with a cold. Flu is a more serious virus. A cold usually gives you sniffles and a frog in your throat, while seasonal flu can become serious quickly. It can lead to life-threatening complications, like pneumonia or it can worsen existing health problems.

Your cover for the flu shot

This is how Remedi pays for the flu vaccine:

You qualify for one seasonal flu vaccine from the Screening and Prevention Benefit each year if you are older than 65 years or if you are registered for one of the following chronic conditions:

  • Asthma
  • Bronchiectasis
  • Cardiac failure
  • Cardiomyopathy
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
  • Chronic renal disease
  • Coronary artery disease
  • Diabetes (types 1 and 2)
  • HIV

Members who are younger than 65 and those who are not registered for any of the above chronic conditions and are on the Comprehensive Option, can still have a flu vaccination and this will be covered from the Personal Medical Savings Account (PMSA), where applicable.

Please note that we do not pay from the Screening and Prevention Benefit for the vaccine to be administered, we only pay for the vaccine itself. We can pay from your day-to-day benefits for the administering. The good news is that some pharmacies administer the vaccine at no cost. Please find out from your local pharmacy.

Getting the flu shot can save lives! Tell your family and friends to get vaccinated as well.