Influenza vaccine clinics kicked off this week and Alberta Health Services (AHS) says getting the once-a-year shot is not just precautionary – it's protection. "People don't necessarily respect it, in terms of how severe it can be," said doctor Judy MacDonald with AHS. "Every influenza season is different," MacDonald explained. Last year, Alberta saw 92 people die from complications related to the flu and 3,047 people admitted to hospital with the virus. "It is true that last year would be what I would call severe influenza season," MacDonald said of the AH3 flu strain, which mutated from its anticipated strain as it travelled through the province. The province also saw an influenza B strain come at the same time as the A strain, which added to the severity of last year's flu season. According to AHS statistics, there was an upswing of the number of Albertans immunized last year – 27 per cent of the province's population has been vaccinated each year since the 2013-2014 season (besides the 2014-15 year which had 30 per cent immunized). Compared to 2010 when only 22 per cent of the population received the vaccine. "There's room for improvement for sure," MacDonald said. MacDonald surmised that if 50 per cent of the population were to be immunized, there would be a dramatic drop in the number of deaths and hospitalizations due to the virus. Public health centres will accept anyone over six months old for vaccinations and pharmacies can immunize those five years old and older. A listing of the nearest influenza vaccine clinic can be found at www.public-share.albertahealthservices.ca/webapps/ImmunizationScheduler/Pages/Search.aspx.
