First case of influenza detected for the season

The first case of influenza this season has been confirmed in Alberta.

According to Alberta Health Services’ first weekly report on the new flu season, one case of influenza A has been confirmed in the central zone of the province.

The province rolled out its flu immunization program this month and nearly 597,110 Albertans have been immunized to date.

In 2017, by the end of November, that number was 958,961 and last year by midNovember it was 936,675.

This season the number in the South zone is the lowest in the province at 40,700. Calgary has done 246,962 immunizations, Central zone 55,492, Edmonton zone 210,339 and the North zone 43, 614.

It should be noted that the numbers provided by AHS are from Sept. 27 to Oct. 24 and by

Alberta Health for pharmacies giving the vaccine from Sept. 27 to Oct. 24. Alberta Health provided the numbers for a pilot group from Oct. 4 to Oct. 24.

Many pharmacies and doctors offices are providing influenza immunization shots but families with children less than five years old can make an appointment (online, see link below) with AHS.

Due to COVID-19 there will be no AHS drop-in flu clinics.

Pharmacists will offer vaccine to all Albertans more than five years old while doctors provide to those more than nine years old and in some cases to children from six months of age.

Individuals who do not have a provincial health care number, or who live in a community where there are no other immunizing health care providers, can call Health Link to seek immunization through AHS.

https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/influenza/influenza.aspx