Clinics open for this year’s influenza season

A person gets a shot during a flu vaccine program in Calgary on Oct. 26, 2009. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Monday is the first day of Alberta’s 2018/19 Influenza Immunization Program.

The flu shot, which is available free of charge to all Albertans six months and older, provides the best protection against the illness according to Alberta Health Services (AHS).

Minister of Health Sarah Hoffman said that getting vaccinated is something Albertans should be doing.

“With seniors, young children and Albertans with compromised immunity especially susceptible, I encourage everyone to get the flu vaccine to protect not only yourself, but others at risk of getting sick.”

The World Health Organization makes annual predictions of which strains of influenza will circulate and the vaccines are made based on the evidence.

This year, the province has ordered 1.6 million doses of a one of a kind vaccine containing four strains.

Pharmacists can now offer the flu shot to people five years and older, compared to the previous nine years and older.

Children under five must be immunized at an AHS Clinic, which there are nine of in the region.

Last year there were 9,609 lab-confirmed cases of influenza in Alberta and 92 deaths among hospitalized patients.