AHS Flu Clinics are now underway

By Lara Fominoff

AHS influenza vaccine clinics now underway

Oct 22, 2019 | 4:33 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – It’s that time of year when Alberta Health Services is encouraging everyone to get the flu shot. Public influzena clinics began Tuesday at Exhibition Park and will continue into December.

Dr. Vivian Suttorp says while the decision to vaccinate is a personal one, last year’s flu shot was about 72 per cent effective, and even those who may still get the flu if they’ve had the vaccine won’t typically have symptoms as severe as they would had they received the shot. It takes two weeks to build up optimal immunity.

A nurse prepares the 2019 flu shot

“The more vulnerable, the very young children under two and even under five, those individuals with chronic conditions; diabetes, heart disease, other immune conditions and the elderly are more at risk of complications,” she says.

Suttorp says the public health clinics see a lot of children typically, because those under the age of 5 can’t get a flu shot at a pharmacy.

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“There are many different venues where people can get the influenza vaccine. There are many pharmacies who provide (the) vaccine, there are many primary care physicians who provide the vaccine… the one unique piece is children under five are immunized through public health.”

She adds that children under the age of nine who do get the flu shot need a booster one month after they get the initial vaccine.

The strains of the vaccine contained in the shots each year are predictions of the WHO (World Health Organization) for the northern and southern hemispheres. This year it contains antigens to four different strains, including two A strains and two B strains.

“Annually the make up of the vaccine is slightly different. So, we need that booster dose every year,” Suttorp explains.

For those who don’t get immunized, Suttorp understands that it’s an individual choice, however those individuals can also put people who can’t get the vaccine at increased risk of illness.

“Influenza vaccine is not for individuals under six months of age. So, they’re not protected. So, in order to protect those individuals, we recommend the immediate caregivers around them and family members are immunized.”

The same goes for those who have compromised immune systems and cancer.

AHS will be holding several additional clinics until early December at Exhibition Park in Lethbridge. Additional clinics will be held in surrounding areas as well. A list with links can be found here.