PortageOnline

Hog barn workers are encouraged to get the flu shot to not only protect themselves, but the animals they're working with.

A seasonal influenza vaccination clinic has been organized in conjunction with the annual Canadian Swine Health Forum, which is taking place in Winnipeg today and tomorrow.

Dr. Dan Hurnik, Chair of the Canadian Swine Health Board's Long Term Disease Risk Management Committee, says there are a number of reasons why they're holding the flu shot clinic.

"Number one, the Public Health Agency of Canada is recommending that everybody get vaccinated for seasonal influenza," he says. "It can make workers sick, which can create a productivity problem, and there's a general health benefit for all people to get vaccinated."

He adds it's also about protecting pig health.

"Certainly with the 2009 H1N1 pandemic and with some other strains, they can go from people to pigs," says Hurnik. "So while we have the opportunity to protect the workers, we can also protect against transmissions to the pigs, so it becomes a health issue for the pigs as well."

He says the key to having hog barn employees get the shot is to make it convenient.

"Part of our effort here is to bring it to one location where there are a lots of people," he says. "I think people do get the shot if they have the opportunity like this."