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Alberta Health has ordered 1.9 million doses of flu vaccine for this year’s campaign
Publication date:
October 17, 2022 • 27 minutes ago • Read 2 minutes • Join the conversation Dr. Karla Gustafson, medical officer of health for the Calgary area, receives a flu shot from registered nurse Kate Stanwood at the Richmond Road Diagnostic and Treatment Center on Monday, Oct. 17, 2022. Azin Ghaffari/Postmedia
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Flu shots are now available to Albertans ahead of what experts say could be a major flu season.
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Albertans six months and older can get vaccinated at pharmacies, public health clinics and some doctor’s offices as Alberta Health Services launched its annual immunization drive on Monday.
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Content of the article
Flu season has already begun in Alberta, with the latest data from the province showing 40 laboratory-confirmed cases as of October 1. So far this season, there have been 10 hospitalizations and two ICU admissions, including a child under the age of five.
“The flu is here. The virus is circulating in Alberta,” said Dr. Karla Gustafson, AHS Calgary Area Medical Officer of Health.
Flu seasons are notoriously difficult to predict, but some experts are predicting a severe flu season after two mild years during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Part of this expectation comes from countries in the southern hemisphere such as Australia, which experienced an important flu season during its winter; these countries can be a point of reference for the spread of the virus north of the equator.
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‘Still a problem’: Alberta’s COVID hospitalizations rise as flu season gets under way
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After two mild years, Alberta could face a severe flu season
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Alberta is experiencing a late-season spike in flu cases
A big flu season would mark a reversal from 2020-2021, when Alberta recorded zero laboratory-confirmed cases, despite an increase in testing. A late flu season in 2021-22 saw 2,906 laboratory-confirmed cases and 14 flu deaths, numbers significantly below pre-pandemic averages.
“We’re really anticipating that the flu will be circulating quite actively this year,” Gustafson said. “Most predictions say yes, we’re going to see the flu here starting right away.”
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Last year, 27% of Albertans got a flu shot. Gustafson said he would like to see that number increase this year, after the flu “slipped off the radar” during the pandemic.
“It’s not just protecting yourself, it’s protecting your family and your community, so it’s very important that we get vaccine levels as high as possible,” he said.
Alberta Health has ordered 1.9 million doses of flu vaccine for this year’s campaign.
AHS runs vaccine clinics for children under five and their families, as well as those without a provincial health care number and those living in communities without other immunization options.
Albertans can also get a flu shot at local pharmacies or doctor’s offices, but are advised to check availability before going for the shot.
Albertans can also get a flu shot at the same time as a COVID-19 booster.
jherring@postmedia.com
Twitter: @jasonfherring
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