Why it’s still important to get your flu shot this year

Although many more Canadians are getting their flu shot this year, experts say there still needs to be a change in thinking when it comes to influenza vaccinations.

In a webinar town hall hosted by the National Institute on Ageing (NIA), experts responded to misconceptions about the flu shot and detailed their expectations for the upcoming season.

“When we actually look at vaccination rates in Canada, we see that we’re actually remarkably low,” said Dr. Samir Sinha, Director of Geriatrics at Sinai Health & University Health Network and Director of Health Policy Research at the NIA, a research centre based at Ryerson’s Ted Rogers School of Management.

“We need to change our way of thinking about vaccinations to understand that just because a vaccine isn’t perfect doesn’t mean it’s not a lot better than nothing,” said Dr. Allison McGeer, the Director of Infection Control at Mount Sinai Hospital and Professor in the Department of Epidemiology at the University of Toronto.

Health Canada recommends that 80% of Canadians get vaccinated but only 29% of Canadians receive their influenza vaccine every year. Sinha says the rate of vaccinations of older Canadians is much higher at 62% as they are more susceptible to catching the flu.

Fears of what some are calling a “twindemic” have driven the number of people getting the flu shot higher this year, with many pharmacies and clinics ordering more units than ever before.

Sinha says getting the flu shot will help ease the strain on the healthcare system and, individually, will also help avoid wondering if one's symptoms are from the flu or COVID-19.

“We’re really encouraging people to get vaccinated against influenza because if that actually helps prevent you from getting influenza in the first place than you’re less likely to get sick and be in this dilemma,” said Sinha.

Already, it looks like the measures put in place to help ease the spread of COVID-19 combined with the uptake in flu vaccinations have helped diminish the number of influenza cases this year. Around this time last year there were reportedly 107 cases of influenza. However, this year there have been just seven cases reported. 

Both Sinha and McGeer expect a decreased but prolonged flu season. They encourage everyone to continue practicing health and safety measures and encourage people to take their flu shot.

“I always remind my patients, even in February, it’s not too late,” said Sinha. “Flu season can go on until May. It’s never too late to get vaccinated.”

Watch the full webinar for more information on this year's influenza season and Dr. Sinha and Dr. McGeer’s expectations for the COVID-19 vaccine.