Manitoba urges people to get 2 shots as it launches flu and COVID-19 vaccination campaign

Manitoba struggled last year through the worst flu season in two decades, so this time around, the province is making sure it's ready, Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara says.

The province has been working with health-care experts and "pulling folks together from across Manitoba" to ensure a plan is ready, Asagwarasaid at a news conference Wednesday morning to launch the annual vaccination campaign.

Flu and COVID-19 vaccines are nowavailable throughout the province for everyonesix months old and up. They are available at medical clinics, Access centres, vaccine clinics, pharmacies, nursing stations and through public health.

Those at increased risk of contracting flu or COVID are people over 65, Indigenous people, residents in care homes, pregnant people, kids who are six months to five years oldand anyone with underlying chronic health conditions, said Dr. Brent Roussin, chief provincial public health officer.

Vaccines for respiratory syncytial virus, orRSV, are also being offeredfree of charge to people older than60 andliving in a long-term care home. That is a newprogram this year, the province said.

"Everybody has a responsibility and a role that they can play in making sure that our families, our loved ones, our friends and our communities are protected and safe," Asagwara said.

"While health-care workers take care of our most vulnerable and our sickest Manitobans, it is our job each and every one of us to make sure that we are doing everything that we can. That means getting vaccinated against the most recent strain of COVID-19 and influenza viruses."

The message is: one visit, two shots,Asagwara said.

It also means, if you're sick, stay home, they said.

"Again, Ican't say it and emphasize it enoughwe each need to do our part to protect the most vulnerable in our communities."

The province has increased the number of hospitalbeds since last fall, adding18 to ICUs across Manitoba, for a total of 110, as well as another eight pediatric ICUbeds for a total of 21, Asagwara said.

It has also added 112 acute care beds with a plan to open 70 more, they said.

Respiratory viruses are spread by the aerosols created when an infected person coughs, sneezes or even speaks. Roussin urges anyone who is sick to wear a mask.

And everyone should practice "plenty of hand hygiene" to prevent any spread that could occur by touching an infected surface.

Manitobas top doctor on preparing for the upcoming flu season

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Manitoba health officials are urging people to get their flu and COVID-19 shots to prevent a repeat of last years difficult flu season. Last year, the vast majority of patients who ended up in ICUs with severe cases were unvaccinated, said Dr. Brent Roussin, Manitobas chief provincial public health officer.

So far, theflu seasonis looking like it could be anormal one, as opposed to last year's surge, Roussin said.

"That's always difficult to predict [but] we look to the southern hemisphere for some clues. [It] is seeing what we'd call a fairly typicalrespiratory virus season."

Last year's severe outcomes were largely driven by Type A influenza, despite the province having a vaccine that was a good match.

"For whatever reason, it was quite virulent," Roussin said.

The vast majority of those who ended up in ICUs with severe cases were unvaccinated, he said.

Flu vaccine uptake was 25 per cent last year while the COVID vaccine uptake was around 19 per cent, according to Roussin, who also said the numbers were especially low for influenza shots for children under age five.

"That was probably one of the only age bands that we saw actually a decline in uptake. We really encourage both COVID and influenza vaccines but in those young groups, certainly, influenza vaccination is important," he said.

Roussinis concerned about misinformation being spread about vaccines, saying it's always been a risk to the public health system, but that it has grown exponentially since the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We want to continue to be the trusted source of information. We want people to understand their health-care providers are there and they're great sources of information," he said.

"You have a great resource right there that you already trust in many aspects of your life, so continue to trust them."

The COVID subvariant KP.2 is currently the dominant strain in Canada and Manitoba's most updated vaccine targets that one, Roussinsaid.