EDMONTON – After immunizing more than one million Albertans with the flu vaccine, Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. James Talbot said Friday that the worst is over.
“Right now, we have put more than a 1,090,000 doses into Albertans. So, as we pointed out before, that’s the second-highest we’ve ever achieved.”
Talbot said, given the current situation, the province won’t likely have to reopen flu immunization clinics.
“I think that we’ll review the situation as things go on. Right now, there doesn’t seem to be enough activity to warrant that,” he said.
“It looks like we’re at the peak – maybe at the peak in the north, and we’ve passed the peak everywhere else.”
READ MORE: Immunization clinics close as flu care clinics open
He added that the province received a little more vaccine recently, but will be keeping that for specific uses.
“In terms of supply, we have small amounts that arrived this week which we’re using to make sure children have been immunized, get their second dose, and then we’re creating a reserve to make sure that we have enough for outbreak situations.”
On Thursday, Alberta Health Services (AHS) released updated flu statistics.
The new numbers showed there were 10 confirmed deaths because of influenza this season, with the two most recent being Calgary cases.
As of January 15, there have been 2,220 cases of influenza A around the province, resulting in 442 hospitalizations. Forty-nine people are in intensive care.
“This will persist for another several weeks longer,” said Dr. Chris Sikora, a medical officer of health with AHS, on Thursday.
“We’re just reminding Albertans: wash your hands, stay as healthy as you can, if you’re sick stay home, and cover your cough.”
READ MORE: No flu shot? Protect yourself other ways
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