This year’s flu shot campaign will be like no other.
That from the Saskatchewan Health Authority who announced flu clinics will open Monday and run to December 23rd in some jurisdictions.
Kevin Wasko, Physician Executive with SHA, says the campaign will take a system wide approach with all hands on deck, using all healthcare opportunities as opportunities to immunize. He says this will be a test drive of sorts in terms of how they could deliver on a COVID-19 vaccine, it will provide learnings on what initiatives work and which ones they don’t want to repeat when a COVID vaccine is available.
Dr. Tania Diener, Medical Health Officer, says this year they are considering the flu shot as part of their COVID-19 strategy. She says by increasing the influenza immunization coverage this year, they aim to protect the population from what she calls a “twindemic”, or a large influx of people with influenza and COVID-19 at the same time.
Chief Medical Health Officer for Saskatchewan Dr. Saqib Shahab says getting the flu shot provides double protection, for yourself and those close to you. He adds the vaccine is freely available, proven to be safe and is particularly important this year during flu season as part of ongoing efforts to mitigate the additional challenges to provincial health care from COVID-19.
Flu shots are being offered by pharmacists, physicians, local public health offices and in the form of flu clinics.
Suzanne Mahaffey, Executive Director of Primary Health Care for Saskatoon, says after a decade of being at Prairieland Park, public flu clinics will be moving to Sasktel Centre. She says the SHA will be utilizing 4o private spectator boxes as clinic rooms over the next two weeks.
The SHA recommends visiting the website 4flu.ca for up to date information on where flu shots are being offered, and say it is a a good idea to call ahead to see what clinics and doctors are offering for walk-in and appointment times.
