Number of Flu Vaccines Given in Alberta Has Tripled in 2 Weeks | The Canadian News

As of Thursday, the number of flu shots administered in Alberta was 916,184. Just two weeks earlier, that number was 290,000.

That puts provincial coverage at 20.7 percent.

However, by this time of the last flu season, a total of 1,142,419 doses of vaccine had been administered. At this time during the 2020-2021 flu season, provincial coverage was 25.8 percent.

This year, AHS has administered 82,916 doses of influenza vaccine, 775,035 doses by pharmacies and 53,337 doses administered by other providers.

3:18Alberta’s Top Physician Highlights Importance of Flu Vaccination Amid Fourth Wave of COVID-19

When Alberta’s flu vaccination campaign began in October, Chief Medical Officer for Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw urged people to get vaccinated against the flu.

“To alleviate the strain caused by increased demand for COVID-19 and influenza testing, I urge all eligible Albertan residents to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and influenza as soon as possible,” he said Oct. 14. .

“This will greatly reduce the number of people who become infected and the number of symptomatic people who need to be tested.”

So far this 2021-2022 flu season, there have been three laboratory-confirmed flu cases in Alberta.

Last year, despite conducting approximately two and a half times the number of influenza tests as the previous year, Alberta had no laboratory-confirmed influenza cases or deaths from the virus.

Any Albertan over the age of six months can get a flu shot for free, and public health clinics will offer the vaccine for children under five and their families.

Many community pharmacies and doctor’s offices also offer the vaccine.

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