Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s chief public health officer, emphasized the importance of getting young children vaccinated against flu
Kids under five have the highest hospitalization rate for flu, she says, noting that currently, the weekly pediatric hospitalization rate is above levels typically seen at the peak of influenza season. She also said ICU admissions and deaths are higher than usual among children.
Ontario’s ministry of health said it does not make flu vaccination rates available to the public until “after the influenza season.” In an e-mailed response, the ministry said that about 30 per cent of Ontarians usually get the flu shot each year.Quebec said it measures flu vaccination rates for targeted populations. More than 70 per cent of its long-term care and retirement home residents have received the shot this year, it said.
“We had a discussion this morning with all the CEOs responsible for all the institutions and of course we think that it’s not enough,” Boileau said at a news conference Wednesday. He estimated that health-care workers who deal directly with the public likely have 35 to 40 per cent flu vaccine uptake.
Alberta reported a 24 per cent rate of flu vaccination, while both Manitoba and Saskatchewan had 22 per cent uptake. About 20 per cent of people in the Northwest Territories have had their flu shot this year.Most of the data provided was up to the first or second week of December.
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