CMO Dr. Janice Fitzgerald urges everyone to get vaccinated during severe flue season
Chief Medical Officer Dr. Janice Fitzgerald held a media availability Thursday urging everyone to get vaccinated amid an early and concerning start to the flu season.
Residents are encouraged to book their vaccination appointments by:
- Visiting timefortheshot.ca
- Checking with a primary care provider – such as a family doctor, nurse practitioner, or local pharmacy – for vaccine availability
The influenza season has started earlier than usual in parts of Canada, with public health officials warning of higher than usual flu activity, complications, hospitalizations, and deaths. Children are being seriously impacted by flu in Ontario, with higher than expected emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and deaths due to infection.
Influenza activity is starting to rise in Newfoundland and Labrador, with almost all cases caused by influenza A (97.9 per cent). While most people reported to have influenza, this season were over the age of 65 (40.4 per cent), 25.5 per cent of infections were reported in children under 10 years of age.
While 20.1 per cent of people in the province have received the influenza vaccine (flu shot), only 8.0 per cent of children under 10 years have received the vaccine.
Vaccination is the best way to protect against influenza, particularly against serious complications. With the busy holiday season fast approaching, getting your flu shot will help to protect yourself and your loved ones during a time when there is usually a sharp increase in respiratory virus activity in the province. If you are a parent or caregiver, you can help protect young children who are not yet able to receive the flu shot by getting vaccinated yourself.
Vaccination against the flu is particularly important for people belonging to the following groups, who are at greatest risk of complications or disproportionately impacted by influenza:
- Children aged six months to five years
- Adults 65 years of age and older
- Residents of senior congregate living facilities
- People with certain medical conditions that place them at higher risk of influenza-related complications or hospitalizations
- People who are pregnant
- People from First Nations, Inuit or Métis communities