Interior Health doubles down on flu vaccine

Flu shots this year protect against influenza A viruses — an H1N1 and an H3N2 virus — and one influenza B virus

Interior Health ordered 30,000 more vaccine doses than last year in anticipation of flu season.

“We really want to meet demand that might be there,” said Pamela de Bruin, manager of immunization programs with IH.

IH decides how many doses of the vaccine to order based on demand in the previous year, she said.

Last year, the health authority ordered 210,000 doses. This year’s flu shot protects against two influenza A viruses — an H1N1 and an H3N2 virus — and one influenza B virus.

Last year, the dominant strain was H3N2, which tends to lead to more hospitalizations, and the effectiveness was 42 per cent.

It is too early to know the effectiveness of this year’s vaccine, but when a vaccine does match the circulating stream, it is roughly 50 to 70 per cent effective, said de Bruin.

Even if the vaccine does not perfectly match with this season’s flu strains, it is still important to get vaccinated, said de Bruin.

“The most important thing is to protect yourself against influenza, but also to protect others.”

Even if someone gets the flu after getting vaccinated, they are at less risk of having serious side effects, she said. Influenza is highly contagious and is among the top 10 leading causes of death in Canada, said Dr. Rakel Kling, medical health officer with IH.

Every year in Canada, about 12,200 people are hospitalized and 3,500 people die from influenza or its complications.

“The best ways to help protect yourself and those around you from influenza are to get immunized, wash your hands frequently and to cough or sneeze into your elbow or a tissue,” said Kling.

IH has organized several free flu clinics in the Central Okanagan, starting Nov. 1 at Peachland Seniors Activity Centre, 5672 Beach Ave., from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

In Kelowna, public health clinics will be held Nov. 3 at Trinity Baptist Church, 1905 Springfield Rd., from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the Ukrainian Catholic Church, 1091 Coronation Ave., Nov. 23 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and at the new IH headquarters, 505 Doyle Ave., on Dec. 1 from 1 to 4 p.m., and on Jan. 5, Feb. 2 and March 2 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

In Lake Country, flu shots will be given at the Lake Country Seniors Centre, 9832 Bottom Wood Lake Rd., Nov. 8 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

In West Kelowna, clinics will be held at West Kelowna Health Centre, 160–2300 Carrington Rd., Dec. 8 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., and Jan. 12, Feb. 9 and March 9 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., and Emmanuel Church, 2600 Hebert Rd., Nov. 7 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.