WATCH ABOVE: According to a new U.S. report, this year’s flu shot is only 23 per cent effective. Su-Ling Goh reports.
EDMONTON — Thirty-three Albertans have died from the flu and close to 600 people have been hospitalized in less than five months, according to Alberta Health Services.
In the past week alone, there have been ten flu-related deaths across the province and more than 170 Albertans have been hospitalized. More than 150 new lab-confirmed cases in the capital city have been reported over that same period.
A new study by the Centre for Disease Control found as many as 50 per cent of those who get the flu shot may not be protected from the most common strain of the illness this year.
This year’s flu vaccine protects against two strains of influenza A: H1N1 and H3N2. It also protects against one strain of influenza B. However, the Centre for Disease Control report shows the type of H3N2 virus circulating this year is different from the one that was used to make this year’s flu shot.
WATCH: The flu is hitting the US in full force. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports almost all states have widespread flu activity and most of the flu out there is from a virus that’s not matched to the vaccine.
So should people still be getting the flu shot? And how much will it protect us?
While this year’s vaccine is only partially protective against the dominant strain, H3N2, Dr. James Talbot, Alberta’s chief medical officer of health, continues to urge people to get vaccinated.
“With H3N2, we know from previous years, that a partial match is still better than not getting the vaccine at all,” Talbot said last week.
According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, recent flu numbers suggest that the country is nearing the peak of flu season. Cases of influenza are sweeping across Alberta, Ontario and Quebec, with an increase in British Columbia and Manitoba.
READ MORE: Nasty flu season strikes as H3N2 cases spike across Canada
Alberta Health Services says the province’s influenza season has hit Alberta seniors very hard. They have revealed that lab-confirmed cases amongst those over the age of 80 is four times higher this season than it was last season.
To help prevent the flu, AHS recommends:
- coughing into your elbow
- washing your hands thoroughly after using the washroom and before handling food, and
- staying home from work or school when you feel ill.
On a positive note, more than 1.7 million Albertans, or 29 per cent, received the flu shot this winter, about one-third more than last.
With file from Heather Yourex and Caley Ramsay, Global News
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