ItB次元官网网址檚 getting close to flu season.

As such, Sooke School District employees are lining up lately for free flu shots at schools and offices across the district.

District superintendent Jim Cambridge said the immunization clinics are an investment in the health of the community.

B次元官网网址淚t is super important to keep our employees healthy B次元官网网址� simply because we have so many  kids,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲e are a people business. ThereB次元官网网址檚 9,400 students in our school district and 2,000 employees. There are a lot of people involved.B次元官网网址�

Approximately 30 per cent of the districtB次元官网网址檚 employees, including bus drivers, support staff, teachers and administrators, participate in the voluntary free program.

While Cambridge said he hoped to see more people participate in this program, many receive flu shots elsewhere, such as from their doctor, at a walk-in clinic, at public flu shot clinics or from a pharmacist.

The district, which does not mandate that employees get a flu shot or wear a mask during flu season B次元官网网址� unlike Island Health for health-care workers B次元官网网址� does not keep track of the total number immunized.

B次元官网网址淚t makes sense economically to invest in (preventative health care) and methods such as this to keep our employees working,B次元官网网址� Cambridge said.

B次元官网网址淭hen we donB次元官网网址檛 have to replace as many employees (when theyB次元官网网址檙e sick). Therefore, we have more money to spend on additional employees or resources for classrooms.B次元官网网址�

Noon-time supervisor and crossing guard Cathy Gordon-Findley got her flu shot Oct. 17, saying it was something she needed to do given the nature of her work.

B次元官网网址淚 work with the young children every day and they always have runny noses and things going on,B次元官网网址� she said.

B次元官网网址淪o to protect my health and not give them anything from me, I thought it would be important to have a shot. To anybody out there, donB次元官网网址檛 be scared, get a shot, be prepared.B次元官网网址�

alim@goldstreamgazette.com