More 'Typical' Flu Season Expected

By 250 News

Prince George, B.C. -  The first local clinic offering up the 2010-2011 influenza vaccine begins later this morning at the Civic Centre...

Northern Health spokesperson, Eryn Collins, says "Influenza season is traditionally from about November to April -- that's the peak -- that doesn't mean that there wouldn't be influenza cases outside of that timeframe."  But Collins says, "Last year, the new strain that became the pandemic strain, H1N1, started at an odd time to be showing up without ever having been seen before, about three-quarters of the way through what would be considered the typical flu season."  Collins says public health officials are thinking we'll be back to a more normal seasonal pattern for influenza this year.  She says the Canadian 2010-2011 vaccine contains three virus strains and one of those, the A-California, is the H1N1-like strain. 

It's interesting to note, Collins says, that Northern Health's Chief Medical Health Officer, Dr. David Bowering, believes that between the circulation the H1N1 virus last year and those who were immunized against it, "it's thought that about 40- to 50-percent of people who live in the north have already been exposed to the H1N1 strain."   She adds, "That's not to say that you shouldn't still get the shot, every year the strains potentially different and the vaccine is adjusted to hopefully have the most impact in keeping people healthy."

As for how many people in the region are immunized each year, Collins says Northern Health doesn't track that data.  Statistics Canada released results showing British Columbians were reluctant to roll up their shirt sleeves for the shot -- only 36-percent chose to do so.  That was second lowest percentage rate in the country, next to Ontario's 32-percent.  Newfoundland and Labrador had the highest vaccination percentage, at 69.

For information on local clinics, click here.  The vaccine is free for residents considered high risk, and those who come into contact with them.  click here for full details

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