Right now, everyone in the Sunrise Health Region is able to receive their influenza immunization for the upcoming season. The health region recently launched the flu shot program, and this year they want to see everyone in Yorkton and area immunized.
Dr. Mandiangu Nsungu, Medical Health Officer for the Sunrise Health Region, says that it's important for people to get immunized against the disease, because it can cause complications and even death in anyone who contracts it.
"Influenza immunization is the best way of preventing influenza."
The biggest risk groups for the disease are children under 5, people over 65, people with chronic diseases or immune problems, or pregnant women, Nsungu says. These are the groups that need to prioritize getting immunized, though Nsungu says everyone should be getting their vaccination.
"I know that people sometimes say they are healthy, and they don't think they need the vaccine. That's a misconception, aside from the fact that anyone can become sick from influenza the thing that we have to realize too is that as a healthy person you may have the disease without having signs or symptoms, without it being a big problem for you. It's possible still to transmit that infection to somebody who is very much at risk and that person could end up with very serious complication... If you vaccinate as many people as possible, you get the conditions to break that chain of transmission of the virus in the community."
The Sunrise Health Region has enough supply of vaccine to cover the entire region, Nsungu says.
"Last year we had a shortage that was resolved later in the season, but this year actually the ministry has ordered more vaccine."
This year the theme of the program is getting people to get their immunization as soon as possible. Part of the reason, Nsungu says, is that it can be difficult to meet demand if there is a sudden uptake in vaccination late in the season, but also because it makes sense to get it out of the way and get people protected from the disease as soon as they are able.
"Don't wait, because we know that the influenza virus is unpredictable. Though we know that the influenza season usually starts towards the end of November, it can start at anytime. That's the reason why everyone should not wait, they should come as soon as possible."
The vaccination itself is free to anyone who wants it, and clinics will run into December.
