Flu vaccine clinics in Alberta to open Oct. 15

Influenza vaccination clinics, free for Albertanssix months of age and older, will open around the province starting Oct. 15.

The province has expanded its immunization program in preparation for the 2018-19 flu season and will allow pharmacists to administer the flu shot to people aged five and up, stated a news release Monday.

Previously, pharmacists were only able to immunize people nine years of age and older.

Pharmacists and some physicians are also allowed to offerinfluenza immunization to residents and staff in supportive living facilities, said the release.

"It's important even for adult Albertans to get their annual flu shot," Dr. Kristin Klein, deputy medical officer of health,said in the release.

"When people get immunized, they protect not only themselves, but also people around them who may be more vulnerable, such as seniors, young children, pregnant women and those with existing health conditions," Klein said.

• Why it's been such a tough flu season for children

The immunization rate for the 2017-18 flu season was 29 per cent, up slightly from 27 per cent in the previous year.

Just under 1.3 milliondoses of vaccine were administered last year.

The province has ordered 1.6 million doses of vaccine for this flu season at a cost of $12.6 million.The amount isenough to immunize 35 per cent of the population.

92 deaths last flu season

A four-strain injectable influenza vaccine produced by two manufacturers Fluzoneand FlulavalTetra will be offered.

In the last flu season, there were 92 deaths among hospitalized patients with laboratory-confirmed influenza. In total there were 9,609 lab-confirmed cases of influenza in Alberta in 2017-18.

The government is holding a newsconference Monday afternoon to officially launch itsflu immunization campaign.