PUBLIC FLU SHOT PROGRAM FOCUSING ON HIGH-RISK PEOPLE

Saskatchewan's Chief Medical Health Officer says that regional health authorities will be focusing on providing influenza vaccine to high-risk people over the next two to three weeks.

"Saskatchewan has sufficient supply to meet the demand for its publicly funded program, and health regions report that most of the high-risk groups have been immunized already," Findlater said. "It is important, however, to ensure the remaining high-risk people are immunized first before we use the rest of our vaccine on healthy people."

High-risk people include those 65 years of age and older, and those with chronic diseases, such as cancer, heart or lung disease or a number of other conditions. The flu shot is free for these groups.

Although not part of the publicly funded program, regional health authorities will also give priority to babies 6 to 23 months of age. Vaccine for this group will be provided at a cost of $25 for the two shots they need to ensure they produce the necessary antibodies.

"Each regional health authority is managing this focus on high-risk groups somewhat differently at public health clinics," Findlater said. "In terms of healthy people wanting the vaccine, it is my understanding that new appointments for the flu vaccine for healthy people will be delayed, but existing appointments will not be cancelled."

Various factors have resulted in the need to temporarily concentrate the provincial supply of influenza vaccine on high-risk groups. These factors include an unprecedented demand for influenza shots among the general population, and a shortage of private supplies of vaccine in Canada. Both of these are secondary to a shortage of vaccine in the United States.

Saskatchewan Health wants to ensure that Saskatchewan people who are most at risk for complications from influenza are able to access the vaccine. Officials will continue to assess the situation and once they are satisfied that high-risk groups have had the opportunity to be immunized, it is expected that public clinics will be able to offer vaccine to healthy people for a cost-recovery charge of approximately $20.

In addition to public health clinics, physicians' offices also provide free flu shots for high-risk people who are covered under the provincial program. The vaccines used for this purpose are part of the public health supply for free immunization for those at high-risk under Saskatchewan's public program. Physicians who have already purchased limited quantities of vaccine from the private market may still make this available for resale to healthy people.

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For More Information, Contact:

Lindy McIntyre Health Regina Phone: (306) 787-8214