Spread joy, not germs: stay healthy this holiday season

This holiday season, Alberta Health Services (AHS) reminds Albertans to stay safe and protect themselves during respiratory virus season. 

To stop germs from spreading:

• Wash your hands thoroughly and often with soap and warm water after coughing, sneezing, using tissues or the washroom, and before eating or preparing foods. 
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when sneezing or coughing. If you don't have a tissue, always cough or sneeze into your arm, not into your hands. 
• Keep your hands and fingers away from your eyes, nose and mouth.   
• Regularly clean and disinfect surfaces that are touched often, such as doorknobs light switches and counters. 
• Stay home – from work, school, social activities and visiting anyone in care facilities – when sick.

AHS continues to offer influenza and COVID-19 vaccines, free of charge, to all Albertans six months of age and older. AHS offers vaccines through public health clinics to:

• Children six months of age to under five years of age, and their family and household members. 
• Individuals who do not have a provincial healthcare number.
• Individuals who live in a community where there are no other immunizing healthcare providers.
• Individuals with booked appointments for other immunizations.

Albertans five years of age and older can also get immunized at: 

• Local pharmacies. Check to confirm vaccine availability.
• Doctors’ offices. Some doctors are offering influenza and COVID-19 immunizations. Check to confirm vaccine availability.

To learn more and to book an appointment, visit ahs.ca/vaccine, call 811, or text 'flu' or 'COVID' to 88111. To learn how immunization (getting a vaccine) protects you, your family and the people around you, visit ahs.ca/immunize. 

Alberta Health Services is the provincial health authority responsible for planning and delivering health supports and services for more than four million adults and children living in Alberta. Our mission is to provide a patient-focused, quality health system that is accessible and sustainable for all Albertans. Our current focus is on reducing emergency department wait-times, improving EMS response times, increasing access to surgeries, and improving patient flow.