LAKELAND - As of Oct. 17, Alberta Health began rolling out doses of the influenza vaccine across the province. The seasonal fall and winter flu vaccine will see 1.9 million doses available to Albertans at select pharmacies, health care and Alberta Health Services (AHS) facilities across the province.
“We expect to have enough flu vaccine to meet demand, and have ordered enough vaccine to immunize more people than were immunized last year,” said Lisa Glover, assistant director for Alberta Health.
The roughly 4.5 million Albertans across the province are encouraged to roll up their sleeves to help limit the spread throughout the season, she added.
Over the last 40 weeks, lab-confirmed influenza cases in the north zone recorded six positive cases with two individuals requiring hospitalization. In other zones across the province, 173 cases were recorded, with 27 hospitalizations and eight ICU admissions, according to AHS statistics.
“Getting your flu vaccine is an easy way to reduce your risk of getting the flu, help to limit the spread of the virus and reduce your risk of being hospitalized due to influenza,” said Jason Copping, Alberta’s Minister of Health, during an announcement last week.
Vaccine rollout
Albertans between the ages six months and 65-years-old will be eligible to receive the regular dose while seniors will receive a more potent dose, a decision that is aiming to support the age group which is much more vulnerable, Glover explained.
“We know that seniors are at greater risk for severe complications from influenza. This is why the high-dose vaccine is being offered to people 65 years and older. The high-dose vaccine contains four times the antigen available in the standard dose of the influenza vaccine, and it is expected that this vaccine will provide additional protection to these individuals.”
Using and analyzing influenza data from historical records in countries like Australia with similar demands where “case counts were higher than any previous year in the past five years,” has been a part of assessing the potential impact provincially this season, she said.
Hospitalizations in Australia have also been lower than normal compared to “the worst two influenza seasons” in that time frame, Glover explained, cautioning the impact the flu may have on the provincial health care system especially while COVID and respiratory illnesses are still around.
“If we see a similar impact here, what we need to anticipate as being different from any previous year is the combined impact on all our systems of all these viruses circulating at the same time.”
Practicing healthy habits
With COVID pandemic restrictions rolled back months ago, most Albertans have returned to normal life. But, a vaccine along with continuing to practice protective and healthy habits continues to be important, Glover explained.
“The more Albertans who continue with habits from the past few years such as staying home when sick, washing hands regularly, accessing the protection of vaccines at recommended intervals, and considering mask use in indoor public places when transmission is high, the more the combined impact of all these respiratory viruses can be reduced.”
Moving forward, as residents access the influenza vaccine, they must prepare for the return of other illnesses, such as COVID-19, so understanding the community and social impacts of their actions is important.
“Remembering that our actions impact our families and communities as well as ourselves remains important,” said Glover.
