02-07-2025
Health experts push province to bolster flu vaccine campaign amid low uptake
The Alberta government is facing calls to strengthen its flu shot campaign next season after seeing the lowest record of vaccinations in the province since 2009-2010, with 21 per-cent of Albertans opting for the shot.
Pharmacist Noreen Walji with Co-op Pharmacy in Edmonton said the pharmacy has seen a steady decline in flu vaccinations over the past three years. Walji attributes the drop in numbers to vaccine apathy following COVID-19 and misinformation on social media and other online platforms.
'There is a lot of vaccine hesitancy around the flu shot this year and in prior years,' she told CTV News Edmonton in an interview on Wednesday. 'We're seeing lower than normal upticks for the flu vaccine.'
Co-op Pharmacy in Edmonton (Evan Kenny/CTV News Edmonton)
Co-op Pharmacy in Edmonton on July 2, 2025. (Evan Kenny/CTV News Edmonton)
She recommends people talk to their healthcare providers or to a pharmacist if they have anxieties around the vaccine, citing the vaccine is safe and that 20 per-cent of all flu cases ended in hospitalizations in 2023-2024.
'There are so many studies showing the efficacy of the vaccine and (its) safety, and the fact that it reduces the complications due to influenza (and) potentially pneumonia-causing hospitalizations,' Walji said, adding that the vaccine has been around for more than a decade.
There were 235 influenza-related deaths in Alberta for the 2024-2025 season. The province cautioned against comparing that number to previous years since it changed how it investigates and confirms deaths from the virus, including starting to count deaths outside hospitals.
Walji said the government is doing a 'decent job promoting the flu vaccine,' but that its messaging could be more widespread.
'Promoting the flu shot is going to be very critical,' she said. 'We saw the lowest uptake of flu vaccine that we had seen in decades.'
'It is a drastic decline that we do need to see additional support through Alberta Health Services to showcase and highlight the importance of receiving the flu vaccine, especially with a lot of that vaccine apathy happening.'
A hospital in Alberta (File)
A supplied photo of a hospital in Alberta. (File)
'It's important to note that declining influenza vaccination rates are being observed across the country and are not unique to Alberta,' the province said in a statement to CTV News Edmonton.
'Many factors influence influenza trends, including viral characteristics, behavioural patterns, and global trends.'
Officials added that reduced numbers of people getting the flu shot, and the increased circulation of influenza strains H1N1 and H3N2, likely caused the 'increased severity' of the flu this past season.
Walji hopes the province can be more active on different platforms and provide patients with more immediate resources and tools from fact checking to healthcare referrals.
Minor side effects from the flu vaccine can include slight fever, runny nose, itchy eyes, and sore muscles.
Walji added that it is easy to get the flu shot by visiting a pharmacy.
'It's not something that takes up too much time during the day and can save yourself or a loved one from serious complications in the future.'
The province is currently in the planning stages for the 2025-2026 respiratory virus season.
With files from CTV News Edmonton's Evan Kenny and Alesia Fieldberg
