HALIFAX- As the autumn season continues, a cold and flu bug is now spreading and more Canadians are experiencing a surge in sickness. “We are seeing the start of the influenza season here in Canada,” said infectious diseases specialist Dr. Isaac Bogoch, who added pockets of the influenza virus are now popping up in different parts of the country. Health Canada reported last week there were 1,149 positive detections of influenza in Canada, with a 4.7 per cent increase of positive tests. “We need to take steps to better protect all Canadians, but also those who are more vulnerable to influenza,” said Bogoch, who applauded Nova Scotia’s decision to roll out its seasonal influenza and COVID-19 vaccines earlier than normal. “I think it is a fantastic idea and if these public health units have the malleability to adjust when they are going to roll out the vaccine dates to an earlier date, then they are doing something smart.” The response in Nova Scotia has been positive so far, and pharmacist Jamie Flynn is already booked solid. “People book them all online,” said Flynn. “And as soon as I put my appointments up, they were all booked quite quickly.” Beth Stevens works in the retail sector, which requires her to be in close contact with the public. She said that’s why she gets her vaccine every year. “I have never gotten sick when I get a flu shot, so I think it’s a pretty good history,” said Stevens. Bogoch is urging Canadians to stay home when they get sick to help minimize virus spread, and he would like to see an increase in the overall vaccination rate in Canada. “It is reliably at the 30 per cent to 40 per cent range in our country,” said Bogoch. “Year after year, we pretty much see the same consistent influenza vaccination rates, and we need to do better.” Bogoch added that even if someone thinks they have already been sick with the flu, they should still get a shot, because the vaccine is designed to protect people from catching multiple strains of the virus. “During every flu season, we are going to have three different circulating types of influenza, and the vaccine covers all those three,” he said. “So unfortunately, you can get influenza more than once during a season. “Also, there are a lot of circulating viruses that are not the flu and are not (COVID-19) that have overlapping symptoms, and just because someone is sick, doesn’t necessarily mean they know what they have.”
