Saskatchewan Health Officials Urge Public to Get Free Flu and COVID-19 Vaccines
- Don't wait for respiratory viruses to spread before thinking about protection, said Saskatchewan Health Authority medical health officer Dr.
- While provincial infection rates remain low, health authorities warn that the situation could change quickly.
- 30, the province has recorded 45 confirmed cases of influenza, while hospitalizations connected to the flu have risen slightly in recent weeks.
Don’t wait for respiratory viruses to spread before thinking about protection,
said Saskatchewan Health Authority medical health officer Dr. Vivian Onaemo, as health officials launched the province’s seasonal immunization campaign in Saskatoon. Every resident aged six months and older can receive free influenza and COVID-19 vaccines as of Tuesday, according to reporting by cbc.ca and ca.news.yahoo.com.
Low Infection Rates and Past Immunization Numbers
While provincial infection rates remain low, health authorities warn that the situation could change quickly. According to the Community Respiratory Illness Surveillance Program report released Oct. 9, respiratory virus activity stayed low throughout the preceding month. However, two people died from respiratory illness-related causes during that monthly period, with one death linked to the flu and another to COVID-19. Dr. Vivian Onaemo called those fatalities a sobering reminder that both viruses cause serious illness, cbc.ca reported.
Provincial data shows that for the week ending Oct. 3, health officials confirmed 12 new cases of COVID-19. Since Aug. 30, the province has recorded 45 confirmed cases of influenza, while hospitalizations connected to the flu have risen slightly in recent weeks. Low uptake characterized the previous immunization cycle, with Onaemo noting that only 20 percent of Saskatchewan residents received an influenza shot last year, and COVID-19 immunization rates fell even lower, according to ca.news.yahoo.com.
Community Protection and High-Risk Groups
Health officials emphasize that vaccination serves as a shared community responsibility rather than just an individual choice. Dr. Ibrahim Khan, a regional medical health officer with Indigenous Services Canada, highlighted the vulnerability of populations such as dialysis patients, young babies, pregnant women, elderly individuals with lung conditions, and immunocompromised residents. Khan also advised residents experiencing symptoms to stay home and contact health-care providers, noting that flu symptoms range from mild to severe, as detailed by cbc.ca.
Vaccine Access and National Surveillance Trends
Nationwide indicators show influenza and COVID-19 activity holding stable or increasing, with positive test rates reaching 4.7 percent for influenza and 4.1 percent for COVID-19 across Canada, according to federal surveillance data cited by ca.news.yahoo.com. In Saskatchewan, vaccines are available at mass immunization clinics, public health offices, physician and nurse practitioner offices, and participating pharmacies. Children aged four and under must receive their doses at immunization clinics, public health offices, or from a physician or nurse practitioner. Residents can book appointments online at 4flu.ca.
