Flu season is here and Alberta Health Services has started its annual immunization campaign. Flu shots are available at various locations for free to all Albertans.
“Influenza is a serious respiratory illness and immunization is there to prevent serious illness, so this is the first day we have flu vaccines available to the general public,” says Dr Vivien Suttorp, chief medical officer of health in the southern area of the AHS. . “Typically, flu circulates from October to March; this year, if it’s anything like the southern hemisphere, say Australia, we could see significant cases of flu. The other concern is having flu and other respiratory illnesses at the same time time”.
Lethbridge families can access photography at a public health clinic in the West Pavilion at the Exhibition Park. Residents can get vaccinations at local pharmacies and some doctors’ offices. Suttorp says the clinic is focused on families with children under five.
“This year’s vaccine contains four different types of flu strains and for seniors 65 and older, it’s a high-dose version where there’s a better immune response for seniors,” he says. “We haven’t seen the flu for a couple of years, we haven’t been exposed to it — it’s important that people get a little bit of that immunization dose,” says Suttorp.
Local pharmacist Vishal Sukhadiya was also busy on the first day of the campaign, offering flu shots to people visiting the Lethbridge Soup Kitchen. He says it’s important to help homeless people access the vaccine because they are often more vulnerable to serious outcomes if they get sick. He adds that in previous years he saw that between 25 and 30 percent of people who entered the soup kitchen were successful.
“It is difficult to convince them, but they are the most vulnerable group than if they contract the flu,” he says. “You do your best and that’s all you do, but I think even if we get one hit, I think we’re going to save a life.”
Sukhadiya adds that she believes that if she goes every year, people will be more receptive to getting vaccinated.