COVID-19, flu cases rising as fall immunizations roll-out

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With the cold and flu season on the horizon and COVID-19 and influenza cases rising, the province has announced that immunizations will be readily available across the province.

Shots will be available at public health clinics, local pharmacies and some physician and nurse practitioner offices as of Oct. 10.

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“It’s important to remember that you’re not only protecting yourself against illness – you’re protecting your family and friends as well,” Health Minister Everett Hindley said in a statement. “Getting immunized is proven in the fight against illness and will help keep you and your loved ones healthy.”

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Last month the SHA resumed its bi-weekly Community Respiratory Illness Surveillance Program (CRISP) reports that provide updates on COVID-19, influenza and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) cases across the province. The reports came out monthly during the summer.

The latest report from Sept. 10 to Sept. 23 shows that positive COVID-19 cases increased by about 50 per cent over the past month from an average of 95 positive tests in the previous three weeks to 159 in the most recent surveillance week with test positivity being at 9.5 per cent.

COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses account for 54 per cent and 44 per cent “of hospitalizations due to respiratory illnesses across the province, respectively,” said the report. At the same time total hospital admissions for respiratory viruses increased 35 per cent “in the most recent four-week period from 170 to 263.”

RSV cases remain low with five reported in the province in the latest report. Influenza cases are on the rise but remain below the inter-seasonal two per cent test positivity threshold.

Within the most recent surveillance week, two people have died due to COVID-19. Hospitalizations and ICU admissions have also been on the rise from 91 to 141 and 10 to 13, respectively.

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Professor of community health and epidemiology at the University of Saskatchewan Nazeem Muhajarine says that people should be cautious as cases rise, especially ahead of the Thanksgiving long weekend where there will be an influx of travelling and indoor family gatherings.

“We have, kind of in a hard way, learned these lessons over the last three years,” said Muhajarine. “We shouldn’t forget these lessons and we have to apply them now. This fall we’re already seeing the numbers rising.”

The province will be rolling out a reformulated COVID-19 vaccine that targets the Omicron XBB.1.5 subvariant. Muhajarine says that it’s important to consider getting the reformulated vaccines and to think of them more like an annual flu shot.

“(The vaccines) are specifically formulated to address the virus variant that is presently circulating among us,” said Muhajarine. “In that way it is more like a flu vaccine.”

Muhajarine says that masking should also be considered to stop the spread of illness as people start to spend more time indoors. Masking is still optional in health care settings throughout the province, but may be enforced pending outbreaks, said the premier’s press secretary Julie Leggott in an email.

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Seniors, those with chronic health conditions and/or compromised immune systems, children under the age of five and pregnant women are considered most at risk of contracting influenza and COVID-19 and are encouraged to get vaccinated as soon as possible.

“We continue to offer free access to high-dose flu shots to all seniors in Saskatchewan,” Hindley said. “I strongly encourage everyone – especially seniors and anyone with underlying health issues – to get their immunization as soon as they can.”

Influenza vaccinations are available to all eligible residents in the province aged six months and older. The province says that children ages six months to five-years-old can only be immunized at a SHA public flu clinic, health office or by a physician or nurse practitioner.

Those eligible can book their influenza and COVID-19 vaccines simultaneously for themselves or their family through SHA’s online booking tool.

If residents prefer going to a pharmacy, they are encouraged to contact them directly to ensure they are offering the current COVID-19 vaccine.

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