Officials with the B. C. Centre for Disease Control have urged residents to get a shot of the flu vaccine, to prevent the spread of the virus. The advisory by the health department has come despite the fact that there have been fewer cases of the flu being reported this month.

The department has brought in further categories of people, who have been advised to get the shots. The health officials have advised people above the age of 50 years old to get the shot, in contrast to the earlier age group above the age of 65 years old.

Even people, who are morbidly obese, belong to the first nations and suffer from chronic conditions have been advised to get themselves vaccinated.

While talking about the new strategy adopted by the health department, Dr. Danuta Skowronski informed that the department was opting for a more comprehensive approach to the flu by targeting the flu season. She added that the decision to lower the age of people being advised for vaccination to 50years old was because it was found that the people in the age-group were found to have fewer antibodies in their bloodstream to fight the virus.

In comparison to the older group, the resistance in the immune system of children was found to be sufficient. As the number of anti-bodies were more than enough to fight-off the flu.