In light of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, health professionals are stressing the importance of flu shots this year.
“The most important thing to note is that the flu and COVID-19 share many common symptoms,” said Agusia McGrath, patient care pharmacist with London Drugs in Calgary. “One big difference is a vaccine does exist to prevent the flu.”
Dr. Jia Hu, medical health officer with Alberta Health Services, said immunizations “are probably the single best public health interventions we have ever come up with.”
“All the diseases that we used to have back in the day, like measles, don’t happen anymore,” Hu said. “Immunizations are very important and I think people recognize that.”
According to a survey conducted on behalf of London Drugs, 67 per cent of Albertans say they plan to get a flu shot this year, up six points compared to 2019. Additionally, 68 per cent think the flu shot is important now to lessen the potential burden on health-care resources.
“It’s for this reason alone people should be getting the vaccine this year,” McGrath said. “I have seen a lot more people come in and ask how to book a flu shot.”
Hu said normally only 30 per cent of Albertans get a flu vaccine. This small number points to the fact people don’t necessarily understand how serious the flu can be, he added.
“It does kill 3,500 Canadians every year, which is a lot,” he said. “I think having a pandemic rage around us makes people think a little bit more about the importance of immunization.”
The rise in the number of people planning to get a flu shot this year could be due to the world witnessing the power of COVID-19, Hu said.
McGrath agreed, saying she believes one of the main reasons there has been an uptick in people wanting to get vaccinated is to protect the most vulnerable people in the community.
“By getting the vaccine and protecting the most vulnerable, we can make sure we are protected and not overloading the health care system,” she said, adding the increase is a positive step that will hopefully carry forward to future years.
According to Hu, a common misconception exists that someone who receives flu vaccinations could actually catch the virus from the shot.
“That is actually not possible,” Hu said. “The vaccine itself is not giving you live virus, it’s giving you dead and inactive bits of virus. What happens often is you have a bit of a reaction, sore arm and feel unwell for a day or two, but that is not the same as getting the flu.”
Flu vaccinations became available Oct. 19. For families with children under five years old, an online appointment can be made via albertahealthservices.ca/influenza. Vaccines are available at local pharmacies for people five and older.
Jordan Stricker, AirdrieToday.com
Follow me on Twitter @Jay_Strickz
