Health officials urge Edmontonians to get flu shot, starting Monday

Alberta Health Services is urging people to get the flu shot at the beginning of a season it says is already seeing cases of influenza.

Starting Monday, Edmontonians six months of age and older can get the shot free of charge at public immunization clinics,doctors' offices andpharmaciesaround the province, AHS said.

"We have seen cases and outbreaks of influenza already,"Dr. Albert de Villiers, AHSmedical officer of health said."You may be healthy now but without immunization, everyone is at risk.

"Prevention is your only protection."

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Health Minister Sarah Hoffman got her shot Monday at an east Edmonton health centre, where she urged Albertans to follow suit in protecting themselves against influenza.

"It takes lives every year," she said. "If I can do something to prevent that for myself and the people I love, I'm happy and proud to do that."

More than 1,600Albertanswere hospitalized and 64Albertansdied from influenza last season.

Less than 30 per cent of the general public were vaccinated and63 per cent of people working in the health-care industry got the flu shot.

"It's not anywhere near where we need it to bemoving forward," Hoffman admitted, adding that the province would like to see 80 per cent ofhealth-care staff immunized.

"I do need to see the numbers go up," Hoffman said.

She said she hopes education and collaboration will result in health-care workers increasingthose numbers significantly."

Dr. Christopher Sikora, Medical Officer of Health for the Edmonton areasaid each season's vaccine formula is determined six to eight months ahead of the immunization campaign.

He said they are prepared for the worst.

"Our health-care workforce, our Alberta Health Services operations folkshave all prepared for a bad flu season because that's what we have to do."

However, Alberta Health is not offering the nasal spray to kids between two and 17 years old.

Alberta Health's websitestates that in 2016, Canada's National Advisory Committee on Immunizationconcluded that FluMist and injectable vaccines are equally safe and effective for children.

Some pharmacists may offer FluMist toAlbertansat a cost, it added.

Some people are more susceptible to severe complications from influenza, but he said no one is immune to the virus.

"Influenza does not discriminate," de Villiers said.

Residents can search forlocal clinics on the AHS websiteor call Health Link at 811.