Watch the video above: as more flu vaccine arrives in Saskatoon, health officials say there is not a pandemic
SASKATOON – It’s a medical phenomena Saskatoon Health Region (SHR) professionals haven’t seen before and weren’t expecting this year.
Whenever an opportunity presents itself, hundreds of people have lined up to get the influenza vaccination in Saskatchewan, even though the flu season is nearing an end.
READ MORE: Hundreds line up for flu shots in Saskatoon
But why is it suddenly a concern? Those in the health profession believe there are a few driving factors behind the anxiety.
First is the strain that’s circulating, according to Dr. Shovita Padhi, the chief medical health officer for the Saskatoon Health Region.
“A lot of people tend to equate H1N1 with pandemic and right now, I want to correct that,” said Padhi on Wednesday.
“We are not in a pandemic situation.”
READ MORE: How to tell the difference between a cold and the flu
During the 2009/10 pandemic, 2,598 people in Saskatchewan tested positive for influenza. So far this season (2013-present), just 618 people have tested positive.
In 2009/10, there were 15 flu-related deaths in the province. Currently this year, seven deaths have been recorded.
In the Saskatoon Health Region specifically, there were 144 confirmed cases last year at this time. Positive results so far this year are up slightly at 156 confirmed cases.
Padhi said the second factor driving anxiety is the outbreak in Alberta.
“In this day and age where we have social media, news travels fast to many more people so everybody knows about what’s going on,” Padhi said.
And third, Padhi said, is spiking rates in some areas of Saskatchewan that’s raising fears.
“First of all you can have outbreaks in facilities and hospitals and there are certain criteria depending on how many cases you have in a ward,” she explained.
Late last week with the supply of vaccine dwindling, the Provincial Deputy Medical Health Officer Denise Werker made an emotional announcement, setting a new approach as to who can receive the vaccine.
READ MORE: Seventh Saskatchewan flu death; province changes vaccine approach
The province received a new shipment Monday and it is now ready to be administered.
The shipment includes 1,500 doses of flu mist. This vaccine is administered through nostrils and will be used on children aged two, three and four. An additional 1,500 doses of the injectable vaccine have also been allotted to SHR.
The province has widened the demographic to account for the immunocompromised; including those on cancer treatment, transplant recipients and patients who receive dialysis.
The SHR will host two drop-in clinics on Friday. The clinics run from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Ebenezer Baptist Church and 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Conexus Boardroom in the Humboldt District Health Complex.
These clinics are for children at least six-months-old and pregnant women. The immunocompromised can book an appointment at a clinic any time this week.
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