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EDMONTON — Alberta’s new primary care agency is urging people to take basic precautions and get vaccinated to reduce the spread of respiratory illnesses during the holiday season.
Primary Care Alberta says regular handwashing, using hand sanitizer, covering coughs and sneezes, avoiding contact with the face and staying home when sick can limit transmission. The agency also encourages frequent cleaning of high touch surfaces including doorknobs, counters and light switches.
Officials say immunization remains one of the most effective tools for preventing serious illness and it is not too late to get vaccinated. They note vaccines are far safer than the diseases they prevent. More information is available on the province’s immunization safety website.
Primary Care Alberta also reminds people that antibiotics cannot treat influenza or other viral infections. Antiviral drugs may be used for treatment or prevention of the flu and guidance is available through the province’s Do Bugs Need Drugs program.
The province created Primary Care Alberta to expand access to family medicine and coordinate services across the system. The agency says it aims to support prevention, improve connections to care and strengthen frontline services in communities across Alberta.
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