REGINA – Health officials in Saskatchewan say three more people have died after getting the flu, bringing the total number of deaths in the province to six.
Dr. Denise Werker, Saskatchewan’s deputy chief medical health officer, says two of the latest deaths were people over the age of 65 and the other was between the ages of 20 and 64.
Three deaths were reported in Saskatchewan last week, two of them young children.
MORE: Influenza linked to three deaths in Saskatchewan
Werker says all six cases involved H1N1 flu, but she also says most of these people had other health conditions, so officials can’t say if the flu caused their deaths.
Eighteen people in Saskatchewan have also been admitted to intensive care because of the flu.
While thousands have lined up out the door of flu clinics recently, many have still chosen not to get a flu shot, including 50 percent of healthcare workers.
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“It makes it harder for health officials; it makes it harder for me as the Minister of Health to encourage people to get their vaccinations when they only see half of health workers getting them,” said Minister Dustin Duncan.
Doctors and public health officials are encountering skeptics for many reasons. Tuesday, Werker refuted reservations some people have about getting the flu vaccine.
“It doesn’t cause disease – I think that’s part of the other myth. Influenza, for the most part, we use a killed virus vaccine.” She added, “None of the vaccines that we are now giving to children have mercury. Formaldehyde is a preservative; it doesn’t cause harm to the body. Your own body produces formaldehyde.”
The province isn’t refusing anyone, but they did order only 280,000 doses. They’re working to get more – but there is a limited global supply. A concern for one family doctor, who encourages all his patients to get the vaccine.
“I would like to see us get at least two thirds immunization because that would at least cover the broader base,” said Dr. Mohamed Moolla.
He said he does see resistance, but tries to convince people of the benefits.
“Especially encouraging all my patients who have any respiratory conditions, chronic diseases, like diabetes, hypertension,” he said.
Word of the deaths in Saskatchewan comes after Alberta Health said Monday that 10 people have died in that province after getting the flu, with 40 others in intensive care.
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