You’ve just connected with the Richmond-Delta chapter of CARP and we – on behalf of all BC CARP chapters – are spearheading the 2018 Influenza Vaccination Initiative, so congratulations; you have already taken the first step in maintaining your good health.
Our Advocacy Mission
Officially, CARP is Canada’s largest advocacy group with over 320,000 members as of the end of 2017. Despite our massive volunteer base of seniors, we do have a small team of professionals at our Toronto headquarters that works with government – primarily at the federal and provincial levels – to bring about change for all seniors in this country. From pension reform to fraud protection, affordable housing to universal pharmacare, we tackle the tough issues on behalf of those who typically do not like to ‘raise a stink’. With more people over the age of 65 in this country than there are under the age of 15, we talk loudly about the tendency of our leaders to discriminate, creating initiatives and devoting resources to the latter (smaller) group and limiting service for the larger demographic.
One of 2018’s major advocacy platforms is a program called ‘Stand Up Straight’. It was born out of an intense desire on the part of President Moses Znaimer to get seniors to stand up for a better life by taking control of their life; their diet, their fitness, their financial status, their overall health… everything. It’s about taking firmer and more pro-active control, instead of being a reactive and passive observer, as many of them learned to be growing up. This project is all about taking one step to protect your health by investing in yourself. And now, the CARP chapters in BC – headed up by Richmond/Delta’s advocacy team – have a quick and easy way for you to do just that!
We are going to help you fight the flu this upcoming season, in the best possible manner. Now, you know its coming. You know its going to be another bad flu season. What you may not know, is you can actually do something pro-active about it to maximize your protection! Get your flu shot, yes… but not just the regular vaccine. Read on to discover why you should take charge of your health by getting a high-dose flu shot. (Or if you’ve already decided your health is worth a small investment, then click the link directly below.)
Click here if you wish to automatically register for your Fluzone High Dose shot.
We can offer a guaranteed service, at a guaranteed price, in a guaranteed time frame, to give you peace of mind and unparalleled convenience.
Click here if you wish to join CARP first!
A Brief Overview of CARP
Founded in 1985, we are a national, non-partisan, non-profit organization that advocates on behalf of adults 45 and over. We work with the goal of promoting social change for seniors in order to bring financial security, equitable access to health care and freedom from discrimination to its members. And anyone can get involved by joining the organization.
The ‘A-B-C’s of purpose for serving seniors are Advocacy, Benefits and Community. In short, we’re devoted to helping Canadian seniors as they age, with more grace and control.
Our 2018 “Stand Up Straight’ Project Initiative – Fighting Influenza!
Influenza – commonly called the flu – has been around for centuries. Despite the common nature of this virus, it wasn’t until the 1940’s that an effective vaccine was created. Influenza vaccines are proven to be a safe and effective way to help people stay healthy, prevent illness, and even save lives. However, as people age, they tend to be at higher risk of complications from influenza. Influenza can also lead to many more complications for people who have heart, lung or other health conditions, which can sometimes even be fatal.1 For this reason, seniors age 65 years and older are advised to get an inactivated influenza vaccine, or flu shot, each year. Unfortunately, standard influenza vaccines are generally about half as effective among older adults compared to younger adults.2
To address the need for better influenza vaccines for older adults, a high-dose version of the flu vaccine was approved for use in the US in 2009 and in Canada in 2015. Called Fluzone High-Dose, this vaccine has demonstrated superior protection compared to the standard dose vaccine and according to Canada’s National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI), in their 2018-2019 seasonal influenza vaccine statement, they state that…
“At an individual level, NACI recommends that high-dose TIV should be offered over standard-dose TIV to persons 65 years of age and older.”
Based on the higher protection of the high-dose vaccine and NACI’s recommendation, several provinces currently cover high-dose vaccinations for seniors. British Columbia, however, is not one of them. And as you may or may not know, CARP is currently advocating for this on your behalf, both as part of a provincial lobbying group and as part of the universal pharmacare (all prescription medications) program in Canada.
Since the Fluzone High Dose vaccination was introduced 10 years ago or so, hundreds of millions of people have been vaccinated against influenza, without incident and, for the most part, with a very discernable positive effect. So, until B.C.’s Ministry of Health do decide to fund it – if they ever do – we are forced to make a decision: rely on the standard dose for protection… or purchase the superior product on our own.
Which is where the CARP BC Fluzone High Dose Initiative comes in to the picture. We are doing our best to make it easy and convenient for those – that see the value of protecting themselves to their best possible ability – to get the high-dose vaccination.
We have enlisted the support of the London Drugs and Save-on Food Pharmacies groups so that you can register here and sign up for your own personal vaccine at the closest location to you, with a guaranteed price for the vaccine!
If you register with us before October 29th, both companies will honour a flat $75.00 charge (per dose), including everything – all dispensing fees, all professional charges and all taxes.
And with October 1st being National Senior’s Day, CARP BC is honouring this day of recognition by offering this unique opportunity – in conjunction with the ‘Stand Up Straight’ initiative – to take control of a small part of the way you can choose to live.
We’d love to have you join us!
This is your exclusive opportunity to take more effective control of your health as you face the 2018-2019 flu season. And tell your friends, whether they belong to CARP or not!
Act now, and reserve your vaccination and stay healthy this year!
Here’s What You Do…
- Go to our registration page on www.standupstraightbc.com
- If you do this before Monday, October 1st at 5 p.m., you are guaranteed to be in on the first groups of vaccinations. Our registration program ends four weeks later, on Monday, October 29th at 5 p.m.; no orders will be taken through our site after that date.
- Fill in your… (for each person wishing a vaccination)
- Last name
- First name
- Telephone number (please indicate whether it is a home [H] or cellular [C] number)
- Email address
- Preferred location (company/location number) for the vaccination (1st choice)
- Preferred location (company/location) for the vaccination (2nd choice)
NOTE: This project is being run on the honour system. If you commit by registering for a dose, you will be expected to pay for it and have it administered.
Here’s How it Works…
The vaccine orders will be assimilated (by us) and will then be forwarded to the appropriate pharmacy (either London Drugs or Save-on Pharmacies, according to your choice) for them to them place the order with the suppliers.
The head offices of London Drugs and Save-on Pharmacies will then ensure that the distribution of the correct number of vaccines doses will be sent to the appropriate locations.
Please know that the Fluzone doses are shipped in packages of 5, so if this minimum number is not reached at your primary location choice, you will be asked to go to your secondary choice.
When the orders arrive at the pharmacy, their staff will contact you via email or telephone, depending on your choice, to advise you that your vaccine is in – at the location that you specified as your first choice.
When you go in to the pharmacy, they will take care of the paperwork and the collection of the $75.00 fee.
PLEASE… DO NOT SEND US THE MONEY.
It will not be necessary to show your CARP card (although it wouldn’t hurt!) and they will administer the vaccine and provide you with the follow-up instructions.
We encourage you to tell your family and friends over the age of 65 about our initiative.
Anyone can register – we want to get out this program out to as many seniors as possible – and so please let everyone that you know about this opportunity to ‘Stand Up Straight’ in 2018!
And if you’re not already part of Canada’s largest group of advocates, go to www.carp.ca to see why you should and just how easy it is to join!
Chapters in BC:
Richmond, North Delta & South Delta (Tsawwassen & Ladner)
North Fraser (Burnaby, New Westminster, Tri Cities, Maple Ridge, Mission, etc.)
White Rock & Surrey
Kootenays (Cranbrook, Creston, Grand Forks, Trail, Christina Lake, Castlegar, Nelson, etc.)
Vancouver (all areas of the City of Vancouver)
North Shore (North Vancouver, West Vancouver, Lions Bay, Squamish, Whistler, etc.)
Sources:
1 Health Link BC
2 Public Health Canada
