Flu shots rolling out for Canadians

The bulk of seasonal flu vaccine is ready to go to the provinces and territories,says the Public Health Agency of Canada, which performs quality checks on all batches before releasing them for use.

In Ontario, people at highest risk, such as residents of long-term health-care facilities or those with chronic medical conditions such as heart or lung disease, have already received their vaccines.

Flu vaccines for healthy seniors, health-care workers and children will arrive in mid-November. Other residents in Ontario will have to wait until the end of November to roll up their sleeves, said John Letherbey, a spokesman for the Ontario Ministry of Health.

Timing varies across Canada

Not all provinces will launch flu shot campaigns at the same time, saidAlain Desroches, a spokesman for the Public Health Agency of Canada in Ottawa.

The arrival of the vaccine was delayed by one month because of difficulties in growing one strain, called A/Wisconsin.

Public health experts said it would be better if the vaccine were available by mid-October to increase the time for getting people vaccinated, but flu cases don't usually peak untilChristmastime.

"We haven't seen a lot of flu in our community yet, so there's still time for people to get the flu shot before they're likely to be exposed to the flu," said Michael Finkelstein, associate medical officer with Toronto Public Health.

Snowbirds may miss shots

But mid-November may be too late for some seniors heading south. Flu shots will be available in the communities where they're headed, but the vaccine will cost about $25 US per shot. Some flu vaccines are also sold privately at pharmacies in Canada.

Private insurance doesn't pay for the cost of the vaccine, said Gerry Brissenden, who represents about 75,000 snowbirds in Canada. His group is asking Ontario's health program to reimburse snowbirds forthe equivalent of what it would cost to give the vaccine in Canada.

As of two weeks ago, sporadic flu activity had been reported in northern Alberta, Toronto and central-eastern regions of Ontario, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada's Flu Watch.

No influenza outbreaks have been reported so far this season, and the rest of the country reports no activity, the agency said in its most recent update.