Manitoba has launched its flu shot campaign as the start of respiratory virus season nears in our province.
Dr. Brent Roussin is Chief Provincial Public Health Officer. He says all Manitobans six months of age and older are encouraged to get their free influenza and COVID-19 vaccinations, noting they are currently available in many medical clinics, ACCESS centres, pharmacies, vaccine clinics, nursing stations, and through public health.
"We know that both influenza and COVID-19 vaccines are widely available now throughout the province," says Dr. Roussin. "And it's especially recommended to those that are high risk of severe outcomes to get those vaccines and get them as soon as they can."
Dr. Roussin says groups considered high risk include seniors over the age of 65, residents of personal care homes or long-term care facilities, pregnant women, children six months to five years of age, Indigenous people, as well as those with underlying chronic health conditions.
The Manitoba government is providing the RSV vaccine free of charge to seniors over the age of 60, living in a long-term care home, and is encouraging residents to get vaccinated through their long-term care facility.
Dr. Roussin explains that influenza and COVID-19 cause a variety of respiratory illness symptoms, including fever, sore throat, runny nose, and cough, and can have severe outcomes in those who are especially at risk.
"That's why we encourage you do whatever you can to protect yourself by getting both of those vaccines as soon as you can," adds Dr. Roussin.
He adds these illnesses are spread when aerosols are created by people who are ill, either by speaking, coughing, or sneezing. They can also spread when we touch an infected surface and then touch our face, which is why he says hand hygiene is so important.
Dr. Roussin says there are a number of measures to be taken to protect against the spread of these illnesses. This includes staying home if you are feeling ill. It means washing your hands frequently and wearing a mask if you have symptoms or if you are around people who might be more vulnerable. It also means disinfecting commonly used surfaces.
Meanwhile, Dr. Roussin says it is always difficult to predict what sort of year it will be for influenza, but he notes they look to the Southern Hemisphere for clues. Dr. Roussin says the Southern Hemisphere is seeing a fairly typical respiratory virus season for Influenza A, RSV, and COVID-19 and not seeing anything unusual in the patterns there.
"That doesn't necessarily always translate here," he admits. "Last year our severe outcomes were driven largely by Influenza A, where we saw a lot of transmission."
Having said that, Dr. Roussin notes last year was a good match for the vaccine.
According to Dr. Roussin, 25 per cent of Manitobans received their flu shot last year and 19 per cent their COVID-19 shot. He says prior to the pandemic, around 20 to 21 per cent of Manitobans would receive their flu shot. Dr. Roussin says last year our province actually saw a drop in children under the age of five who got vaccinated for influenza.