Canadians avoiding flu shot could benefit from needle-less vaccines
While the next flu pandemic is on the radar of public health officials, Canada is still struggling to control the spread of seasonal flu, but needle-less vaccines could offer Canadians protection against influenza, a vaccine and infectious disease specialist says.
Dr. Andrew Potter, CEO and director of the Vaccine and infectious Disease Organization at the University of Saskatchewan, told CTV's Canada AM that despite efforts to increase influenza vaccination rates, the flu shot uptake is still low.
Part of the problem, he said, is that the general public still underestimates the impact of the flu.
"The public looks at flu as being 'just the flu' – it's something we expect every year," he said. "And yet, in fact, it's one of the top 10 killers in the country and indeed around the world," he said.
According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, up to 3,500 Canadians die from influenza and its complications each year, depending on the season. Children, adults over the age of 65 and patients with chronic health conditions are more at risk for flu complications. Getting a flu shot annually is one way of preventing the spread of the flu, the agency says.
And while the push to expand flu shot programs across the country by offering it in drug stores is laudable, more needs to be done, Potter said.
Canadians avoiding the flu shot could benefit from needle-less vaccines | CTV News
While the next flu pandemic is on the radar of public health officials, Canada is still struggling to control the spread of seasonal flu, but needle-less vaccines could offer Canadians protection against influenza, a vaccine and infectious disease specialist says.
Dr. Andrew Potter, CEO and director of the Vaccine and infectious Disease Organization at the University of Saskatchewan, told CTV's Canada AM that despite efforts to increase influenza vaccination rates, the flu shot uptake is still low.
Part of the problem, he said, is that the general public still underestimates the impact of the flu.
"The public looks at flu as being 'just the flu' – it's something we expect every year," he said. "And yet, in fact, it's one of the top 10 killers in the country and indeed around the world," he said.
According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, up to 3,500 Canadians die from influenza and its complications each year, depending on the season. Children, adults over the age of 65 and patients with chronic health conditions are more at risk for flu complications. Getting a flu shot annually is one way of preventing the spread of the flu, the agency says.
And while the push to expand flu shot programs across the country by offering it in drug stores is laudable, more needs to be done, Potter said.
Canadians avoiding the flu shot could benefit from needle-less vaccines | CTV News
