The head of Sunrise Public Health is happy with the way the region's flu immunization campaign is going so far, but there is a long way to go.
"It's going very well, we are quite pleased with the turnout," said Jim Wallace, director of Public Health.
After three weeks of clinics, 8,782 people have been vaccinated across the region including 2,877 in Yorkton.
While those numbers are not bad for a start, they only represent 15 per cent of the 59,000 population Sunrise is responsible for.
The vaccination, or alternatively, wearing a mask, is mandatory for health care staff in the province who work in patient areas. Included in the regional total are 1,321 of Sunrise's 2,900 employees.
The region recommends everyone get a shot and it has on hand enough vaccine for every man, woman and child in the area.
Wallace explained it is not just about protecting yourself, but protecting the entire community, particularly those who are more vulnerable to complications such as seniors, young children and pregnant women.
This is commonly referred to as herd immunity or community immunity. According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, for most of the population to be relatively safe from influenza, 80 to 90 per cent of people need to be vaccinated.
It is not perfect, of course, because the vaccine itself is not 100 per cent effective, but the idea is that the more people who are immune, the less likely it is that the virus can get a foothold.
Generally, the group that has the lowest turnout is healthy young adults (ages 18 to 49) because they, rightfully, realize even if they do get the flu it won't be that severe. It is precisely this group, however, that can have the greatest impact on community immunity. The vaccine is less effective in older adults and very young children because their own immune systems have a harder time mounting a defence.
Over the next several weeks, there are dozens of clinics scheduled in Yorkton, Melville, Ituna, Bangor, Canora, Esterhazy, Foam Lake, Kamsack, Langenburg, MacNutt, Bredenbury, Norquay and Preeceville. A complete list is available on the Sunrise web site. Anyone who cannot make it to one of the clinics can also get the shot by appointment by calling their local public health office.
And even though the campaign lasts until mid-December, Wallace said there is no reason to wait. The vaccine takes about two weeks to take effect and the heart of the flu season is rapidly approaching.
He also suggested some other ways people can help prevent the spread of the disease such as staying home from work when exhibiting symptoms, sneezing and coughing into a sleeve instead of hands, and washing hands regularly.
