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Doctor advises getting flu shot prior to holiday season

Nov 14, 2018 | 9:34 AM

A strong start to flu clinics in the province.

An email from Saskatchewan Health Authority spokesperson Doug Dahl said about 5,700 people in the northeast got their flu shot as of November 3.

“Well, it’s good people are getting their flu shots,” Medical Health Officer Dr. Mohammed Khan said. “If you look at the numbers they are almost the same as the last year in our health area, and provincially it’s probably a little bit, slightly higher as compared to last year.”

It looks like this year’s vaccine might be more effective, according to Khan.

“The initial cases of influenza virus that we have, they were typed in the national microbiological lab in Winnipeg, and they came as to be which are included in the vaccine” Khan said.

He recommended getting your flu shot if you haven’t done so already.

“Usually it happens when people are, during the holiday season, people get together, families get together and one person is infected,” Khan said. “It usually spreads during those holidays, so it’s better to get the vaccine as soon as possible because it usually takes two weeks for the vaccine to become effective.”

Public health mass immunization clinic dates and times can be found at www.4flu.ca.

People can also visit a pharmacy to get their flu shots.