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TORONTO – Seasonal influenza cases have already begun to emerge in Canada, and public health officials say it's time to get into this attack – not only to prevent the flu, but also to prevent spread the nasty respiratory virus. to others.
This year's influenza vaccination is expected to be much more effective than last season, which did not match the predominant circulating strain known as A-H3N2, said Dr. Michelle Murti of Public Health Ontario.
Murti said the 2018-2019 vaccine should be better matched, as the H3N2 component has been modified to reflect what should be the dominant type of this strain this season.
The standard influenza vaccine provides protection against H3N2, another A strain called H1N1, and two B – Victoria and Yamagata strains. The vaccine is intended for most adults, as well as for children six months and older. For children with needle problems, parents can opt for vaccination with FluMist, a nasal product that targets the same four strains.
A high-dose vaccine is available for people aged 65 and over, who are often at higher risk for serious flu complications, which can sometimes be fatal.
"What concerns us most is the H3N2 component. This is the case that can be quite serious for the elderly in particular, "said Murti.
"The question is what kind of season are we going to see this year? We had two consecutive years of H3N2 seasons. So, I think some of the predictions about what we might see this year are that we could be back to a H1N1 flu season. "
This is happening in Australia as the southern hemisphere reaches the end of its influenza season.
"They had a predominantly H1N1 season – very, very sweet," she said, a dramatic change from the previous year, when Australia had registered more than 250,000 confirmed cases in laboratory and 1,255 deaths due to influenza, compared to about 90,000 cases. 464 deaths in 2016, mainly due to H3N2 infections.
"We hope to be able to follow them this year," said Murti about this year's experience, Down Under. "We think people have good immunity against the H3N2 virus, which we had for two seasons."
The 2017-18 season in Canada has been a bit of an anomaly, surprising even some flu experts. Not only was there a high number of H3N2 cases beginning in the fall, but there was a surge of late-winter-early spring B-flu cases.
Despite hope that the country could duplicate the influenza season in Australia, Murti said Canadians should not badume it was useless to get vaccinated.
"We never know exactly what we are going to get," she said. "In Australia, was the situation lenient because people were also vaccinated and vaccinated against H1N1?
"So I think we can not just try to get the best protection possible. Regardless of the type of flu you contract, it can be severe enough for many people, especially if you are at risk for flu complications. "
Complications include sinus and ear infections, pneumonia and inflammation of the heart or brain, which can drive an infected person to the hospital and in some cases even lead to death.
Those most at risk for complications include very young children, the elderly, those with underlying heart and respiratory problems, and those with weakened immune systems.
But there are always those who choose not to be vaccinated for fear.
For children – and even some adults – who have an aversion to needles, a chain of pharmacies has come up with a way to help reduce the risk of infection.
Whole Health Pharmacy Partners, a national network of independent pharmacies, has set up a virtual reality program to distract while exposing its arm to the dreaded blow.
Participating pharmacies offer a list of 10 YouTube videos accessible via the patient's mobile phone and viewed using virtual reality glbades provided by the stores.
"The patient chooses if he wishes to immerse himself in a room filled with puppies or wishing to immerse himself in a dolphin diving experience or in space exploration or a beach at Maldives, "said Saleema Bhaidani, director of pharmacy innovation and professional affairs for Whole Health.
"The good thing about virtual reality is that you put that helmet on, they are completely immersed, so they can not see the needle," she said.
"So, if you distract them from watching (the needle), it can decrease the perception of pain dramatically."
Ontario, which began deploying its publicly funded influenza vaccine program on October 22, is already receiving reports of influenza cases in some areas of the province and has registered its first outbreaks in institutions. long-term care.
In its latest FluWatch report ending the week of October 20, the Public Health Agency of Canada reported an increase in influenza activity across the country, although the number of cases was so-called "interseasonal" levels, the H1N1 virus being the most common strain.
But as the country gets closer to winter, Canadians can expect sneezing and piracy to escalate as the annual flu festival gets underway, say the doctors. public health, who would like to see the number of Canadians reduced to nothing by the virus. reduced.
And that means being vaccinated against the flu, Murti said. "It's the best protection you can have."
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