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Provincial gov’t purchases additional flu vaccine to meet demand

There will be 36.5 per cent more vaccine this year 
flu-shot
(file photo)

Flu season will be here soon and many Saskatchewan residents will seek out the flu shot. Because of an anticipated increase in demand due to COVID-19, the Ministry of Health has purchased 36.5 per cent more vaccine than last year.

“It is always a good idea to receive the influenza vaccination but it is particularly important during the pandemic,” Saskatchewan’s Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Saqib Shahab said in a press release. “Receiving the vaccine will help prevent the spread of influenza.”

There will be no cost access to the high dose vaccine for personal care home residents 65 years of age or older. Long-term care residents in the same age bracket will receive the high dose vaccine at no cost again for the third year.

The flu shot is recommended for those at higher risk, including seniors, people with underlying chronic health conditions, children under five, and pregnant women.

Getting a flu shot will look a bit different this year, as the process will be modified. Of course, that will include physical distancing and sanitization procedures. More details will be released when the fall immunization program gets underway in mid-October.

For further information on influenza symptoms and when to seek care, call HealthLine 811 or visit www.healthlineonline.ca.

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