Incidents of the flu are lower than expected in Saskatchewan, even though influenza vaccinations this season are slightly down from the previous year.

"The lineups for flu vaccine were unprecedented," said Dr. Toye Oyelese. "I mean, pharmacies were running out of vaccines."

No cases of influenza have yet to be reported in Manitoba, compared to 190 at this time last year.

The province recently acquired additional doses of a nasal spray flu vaccine.

The low activity mirrors much of what's being seen across the country and is due in part to restrictions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

With all of the alarm about COVID-19, health officials are cautiously optimistic that this year's flu season will be a different story.

Many health experts feared that a fall wave of COVID-19 would not only be worse than the first wave in the spring, but it would come just as seasonal flu infections started to spread.

They say they have been able to identify the specific batch of about 85,000 doses of influenza vaccine and say providers will not administer further shots.

There have been no lab-confirmed cases of influenza reported in Alberta so far this flu season.

Online bookings are full as many people struggle to get the shot for the seasonal flu.