Number of flu shots administered in Alberta has tripled in 2 weeks

As of Thursday, the variety of flu photographs administered in Alberta was 916,184. Simply two weeks prior, that quantity sat at 290,000.

That places provincial protection 20.7 per cent.

Nevertheless, by this time final flu season, a complete of 1,142,419 doses of vaccine had been administered. Right now throughout the 2020-2021 flu season, provincial protection was 25.8 per cent.

This 12 months, 82,916 doses of influenza vaccine have been administered by AHS, 775,035 doses by pharmacies and 53,337 doses administered by different suppliers.

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Alberta’s high physician outlines significance of getting flu shot amid COVID-19 4th wave

When Alberta’s flu shot marketing campaign started in October, chief medical officer of well being Dr. Deena Hinshaw urged individuals to be vaccinated towards influenza.

“To ease the pressure brought on by elevated demand for COVID-19 and influenza testing, I urge each eligible Albertan to get the COVID-19 and influenza vaccines as quickly as you’ll be able to,” she stated on Oct. 14.

“It will tremendously scale back the quantity of people that get contaminated and the variety of symptomatic individuals who must be examined.”

To date within the 2021-2022 flu season, there have been three lab-confirmed circumstances of influenza in Alberta.

Final 12 months, regardless of conducting about two and a half occasions the variety of flu checks than the 12 months earlier than, Alberta had no lab-confirmed circumstances of influenza or deaths from to the virus.

Any Albertan over the age of six months can obtain a flu vaccine without cost and public well being clinics will provide the vaccine for teenagers aged 5 and below and their households.

Many group pharmacies and physician’s workplaces additionally provide the vaccine.

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Medical doctors warn flu season may return with a vengeance