As the weather starts to turn colder, the Airdrie City View editorial team would like to remind our readers to get vaccinated – not just for COVID-19, if you haven't already, but the annual flu shot.
With winter just around the corner, Alberta Health officials are warning about the return of influenza this year, and encouraging people to get their shots. As of Oct. 18, individuals can now head to bookvaccine.alberta.ca to book free-of-charge flu vaccinations, with appointments available at participating pharmacies and Alberta Health Services’ public health clinics. The free shots are available to anyone six months old or older.
According to a recent report from the Globe and Mail, reports of flu-like cases in India and the Middle East indicate Influenza B could be the dominant strain of flu this winter. The report indicated Influenza B tends to affect children more so than adults.
Though some people are against vaccinations, flu shots prompt the immune system to produce disease-fighting antibodies, which is a natural function of the body.
"Immunization simply gives your child the opportunity to build these antibodies before being exposed to disease, and without getting the actual disease," states the Alberta Health Services' information page on the flu shot.
Last year saw a record 37 per cent of Albertans get immunized for the flu, compared to 33 per cent the year before. According to the government, Alberta had no lab-confirmed influenza cases and no flu-related deaths in the 2020-21 influenza season.
Public health measures introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic – masking, frequent hand-washing, social distancing, gathering restrictions, and other hygiene-related focuses – helped keep the flu at bay last winter, according to health officials, as did the higher-than-normal rate of immunization.
But a lot of those public health measures have eased since last winter, which could result in a particularly nasty cold and flu season.
Though the efficacy of this year's flu shot is not yet known, we still encourage readers to get the flu shot.
