Visual credit: Nicholas Monette – Artistic Director
Article written by Nonibeau Gagnon-Thibeault – Journalist
As winter approaches, public health organizations in Ottawa and the Outaouais are recommending flu shots to those at risk. With the various health restrictions of the past two years, the population is less immune seasonal flu, which might put pressure on area hospitals.
Different vaccination campaigns between provinces
The Ontario government has launched a vaccination campaign universal flu vaccine for all residents of the province aged six months and over. The goal is to avoid co-circulation of the disease with COVID-19. The Ontario Ministry of Health says the measure serves to protect families and communities, but also to protect the health care system.
For students residing in Quebec, the Outaouais Integrated Health and Social Services Center (CISSSO) has set up a vaccination campaign that targets groups at risk. Among the latter are people aged 75 and over, people living with certain chronic diseases, pregnant women, natural caregivers and health care workers.
Reduced flu immunity
The risk of experiencing more severe flu symptoms this year is real, warns Earl Brown, professor at the Medical School from the University of Ottawa. He asserts that “nyour immunity to the flu and lung infections in general has dropped “, then that our immune system is usually used to fighting the flu every year. However, health measures once morest COVID-19 have limited the transmission of lung infections, which has had a negative impact on our immune system, which is less able to fight once morest these infections, he continues.
Although the number of influenza infections is currently within the norm, Brown observes abnormally high numbers of lung infections, such as in children hospitalized at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO). He recalls that the seasonal flu was already putting pressure on the health system before the onset of the COVID-19. With the rise in various lung infections, “The situation is expected to get worse,” Brown predicts.
The consequences of influenza should not be underestimated, says the professor. Of all the lung infections, it is the one that kills the most elderly people and causes the most hospitalizations, he says. He reminds us that the flu can also be fatal for children. Statistics Canada reports that it is among the top five causes of death for children aged 0 to 4 in the country.
” Everybody wins “
“Although most students are not in the risk groups, there is still a risk of transmitting the flu to someone at risk, whether in class or at home,” Brown said. The virology specialist emphasizes, however, that the choice to be vaccinated is up to each person’s judgment.
“When you get a flu shot, everyone wins,” insists Nathalie Lemire, public health officer at Ottawa Public Health. She says the best way to protect yourself and the community is to get the vaccine.
As for the student community, Lemire warns that the flu is more than just a cold. Symptoms can force you to miss school, work, or even miss the opportunity to celebrate family holidays.
Different formulations of the vaccine
With the development of medical research and technology, there are now nine different formulations of several types of flu vaccines in Canada, Brown said. Some vaccines are produced in the traditional way, while others have a high dose of viral proteins, or contain immune stimulants.
The professor recommends that people at risk call their regional public health service to inquire regarding the most appropriate vaccines for their health condition. He believes it is important that people be aware of the options available to them in order to make informed decisions.
There is no data available to determine if there is greater public interest in the seasonal flu vaccine this year. Health Canada notes that there was a slight drop in flu vaccination in 2020-2021 (40%), compared to the 2019-2020 season (42%). As for the population at risk, the vaccination rate of people aged 65 and over (70%) and people aged 18 to 64 with a chronic health problem (41%) remains below Canada’s immunization coverage goalset at 80% for these groups.
