(File photo/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Flu season

Northern health agency encouraging more people to roll up their sleeves

Oct 8, 2019 | 1:12 PM

The health agency representatives responsible for 33 northern Saskatchewan First Nations communities are hoping for a calmer flu season this year.

By the end of November last year, the Northern Inter-Tribal Health Authority (NITHA) reported 35 lab confirmed cases of influenza, including six which led to hospitalizations. Medical Health Officer Nnamdi Ndubuka told paNOW there is no way to predict what will happen this year.

“What we want to do is encourage people to get their flu shots as soon as the season starts,” he said.

Despite some initial concerns about a national shortage of the vaccine, the Ministry of Health has since announced that its immunization program was on track to commence Oct. 21. NITHA receives its vaccine supply from the province, and Ndubuka said he was confident they would have enough doses for all the communities they serve.

“The flu vaccine will be available at no charge so they should make their way to the community health clinics where the flu shot is available,” he said.

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Last year, 6,600 shots were administered by NITHA, a 74 per cent increase from the year prior. Ndubuka said he would like to see that number climb even higher this year.

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell