From time to time, a virus, such as the swine flu in 2009 or H1N1 last year, comes along and dominates the headlines.
Meanwhile, year in and year out, seasonal influenza hospitalizes thousands Canadians and claims hundreds of lives.
Most tragically, most of these cases can easily be prevented with a simple shot in the arm.
Sunrise Health Region launched its 2014/2015 immunization campaign last week with a barbecue and clinic at Gloria Hayden Community Centre.
Dr. Mandiangu Nsungu, Sunrise medical health officer was on hand getting his own vaccination and explained the theme of this year's campaign, 'don't wait, vaccinate.'
"We know that the influenza virus is unpredictable, although we know that the season usually starts toward the end of November until the end of March, but it can start at any time," Nsungu said. "It can start sooner than that so that's the reason why people should not wait; they should come as early as possible."
People should also be aware it normally takes two to three weeks after immunization for the body to develop flu antibodies.
The Public Health Agency of Canada is already reporting 10 hospitalizations of influenza for the 2014/2015 season, which officially runs from August to August. Nsungu said there have been none in the Sunrise region.
Nsungu pointed out there are certain groups of people who are at higher risk that others. These include children under 5 years old, people 65 years and above, those with chronic diseases, people who are immune-compromised and pregnant women. Health care workers, of course, are also in a high-risk position. In fact, all Saskatchewan health regions have an 'immunize or mask' policy for this flu season forcing doctors, nurses and other providers to make a choice between getting a shot or wearing a mask.
In terms of getting in early, there is also no need to worry about taking a shot from someone with greater need because supply of the vaccine is not an impediment this year. The Province has enough for every man, woman and child in Saskatchewan.
"Everybody should get immunized, of course, and the good thing is this vaccine is free of charge for everybody with a Saskatchewan residence," Nsungu said.
And getting vaccinated is not only for a person's own sake, the doctor explained.
"I know that people sometimes say that they are healthy, they think that they may not need the vaccine; that is a misconception," he said. "Besides the fact that anybody can become sick of the influenza, the thing we have to realize too is that as a healthy person you may have the disease without having maybe signs of symptoms, without it being maybe a big problem for you, but it is possible still for you to transmit that infection to somebody who is very much at risk and that person may end up with very severe complications and they can even end up with death so that's the thing you have to realize.
"If we are healthy, we should get immunized because that's the best way of creating that sort of, I'll call it a cocoon, in the community. That's what we call the community immunity. If you vaccinate as many people as possible you actually gather the conditions to break that chain of transmission of the virus in the community so that's something that people should have in mind."
Other tips for keeping the community safe from influenza include frequent and thorough handwashing and staying home from work or school if experiencing any flu-like symptoms.
October 23: Yorkton Friendship Centre 5 p.m. - 8 p.m.
October 24: Yorkton Terriers Hockey Game (Gallagher Centre) 4 p.m. - 7 p.m.
October 25: Yorkton Parkland Mall 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
October 27: Springside Senior Centre 10 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
October 27: Theodore Health Centre1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
October 28:Yorkton Fairview Arms (155 5th Avenue S.) 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
October 29: Yorkton Gloria Hayden Community Centre 3 p.m. - 7 p.m.
October 30: Yorkton Parkland College 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
November 3: Rhein Golden Agers 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
November 5: Yorkton Independent Manor (139 Dominion Ave.) 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
November 5-8: Yorkton Harvest Showdown (Gallagher Centre) 11 p.m. - 7 p.m.
November 13: Yorkton New Horizons (78 1st Ave N) 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
November 14: Yorkton Terriers Hockey Game (Gallagher Centre) 4 p.m. - 7 p.m.
November 17: Yorkton Allan Bay Manor (25 Allan Bay) 10 a.m.. - 12 p.m.
November 18: Yorkton Boys & Girls Club (12 1st Avenue N) 5 p.m. - 6 p.m.
November 19: Yorkton Soup Haven (186 Allanbrooke Drive) 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.
November 20: Yorkton Gladstone Assisted Living (162 Dunlop St) 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.
November 22: Yorkton Family Resource Centre (345 Broadway St W.) 10 p.m. - 2 p.m.
November 24: Yorkton Aspen Bluffs Villa (27 Alderwood Place) 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
November 29: Yorkton Terriers Hockey Game (Gallagher Centre) 4 p.m. - 7 p.m.
December 6: Yorkton Parkland Mall: 10 p.m. - 2 p.m.
December 12: Yorkton Public Health (150 Independent Street) 3:00 p.m. - 8 p.m.
December 19: Yorkton Public Health (150 Independent Street) 10 a.m. - 1 pm
December 29: Yorkton Public Health (150 Independent Street) 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
