Reports from the last influenza season that three unvaccinated and otherwise healthy children succumbed to the virus in Saskatchewan in January are a somber reminder about the importance of vaccinations.
Among them was a two-year-old girl who died of pneumonia several days after being diagnosed with the H1N1 bug.
The public needs to be reminded that getting “the flu shot is like putting on a seat belt,” Dr. Laurentiu Givelichian, of the Saskatchewan Health Authority, previously told the CBC.
The physician described such situations as “devastating,” knowing the deaths could have been prevented.
Meanwhile, back home in Alberta, the 2018-19 flu season reportedly claimed the lives of 30 Albertans, with more than 5,900 laboratory-tested cases confirmed.
Everyone is potentially at risk of contracting the disease, regardless of how healthy a person is. But those who are most at risk include more vulnerable segments of our population, including seniors, children under the age of five, pregnant women, Indigenous people as well as anyone with existing health problems.
For the past few weeks, immunization clinics have been underway, with pharmacies also offering vaccinations.
The Sundre Community Health Centre, located immediately adjacent to the Sundre Hospital and Care Centre on the north side of Sixth Avenue NE across the road from the Sundre RCMP detachment, held a clinic on Monday, Oct. 28, with another scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 25. Appointments can be booked by calling (403) 638-4063, and people are reminded to have their Alberta Health Care card ready and to consider wearing short sleeves.
While the shots in certain rare cases can cause reactions ranging from a stiff or soar spot where the needle was administered to mild aches and fever-like symptoms, we nevertheless agree with health-care professionals that getting vaccinated is a wise precautionary measure that could very well prevent a far worse outcome should someone contract the virus without any protection.
Even those who are healthy and could recover from a crippling encounter with flu — at the expense of lost productivity and time wasted lying in bed feeling miserable — should consider getting vaccinated. Because other, potentially more vulnerable people they come into contact with, such as children and seniors, might not be so lucky.
Simon Ducatel is the Round Up’s editor.
