Flu season

This year’s strain of influenza A is a virulent form of H3N2 – more severe than last year’s – and comparable in severity to the 2014-15 flu season.  

According to the latest figures from Flu Watch Canada, there have been nearly 2000 cases confirmed in the lab, but likely many more Canadians have or have had the flu. There are widespread outbreaks in parts of BC, Alberta and Saskatchewan – with lots of localized outbreaks in those provinces and Ontario.

BC’s Interior Health Authority said last week that as many as fifteen deaths may be linked to an outbreak affecting seventeen care facilities in the region. Calgary is dealing with close to forty outbreaks with over a thousand confirmed cases and more than 300 hospitalised. Across Alberta, there have been more than a dozen flu-related deaths. As of last week, there were 115 cases of H3N2 in Ottawa – making it one of Ontario’s hardest hit cities. And they’re just starting to see cases of flu in New Brunswick

Keep in mind though that 20 percent of the most vulnerable seniors don’t get the shot. Combine that with a 50 percent effectiveness rate, and the bottom line is that we’re going to see frail seniors with severe respiratory distress who have to be admitted to hospital – with some ending up in the ICU on a ventilator.  

A friend of mine brought her kids to the pediatrician for a check up and asked whether they should get the shot.  He was downright blasé about it.  

The solution is a universal flu vaccine that is given once and protects against the flu for ten years or more. Researchers are getting closer, but we’re not there yet. New high dose preparations of influenza vaccines have recently become available. By giving greater immunity to frail seniors, they can help reduce the death rate in vulnerable people. Meanwhile, this year’s flu shot is effective enough for me to recommend that you get it – to protect you – and especially people at risk.