Last year, according to the province’s final Influenza Surveillance Report for the 2019-20 season, only 26.3% of people got the annual booster which is actually a slight increase from the previous year. The province is preparing for a pandemic bump and has purchased enough shots for 40% of the population with the option to purchase more.
As of Wednesday morning, there were 283 active COVID cases in Manitoba, with nine people in hospital and three in intensive care. With school returning last week, the province is already starting to see positive case numbers begin to increase with seven at John Pritchard School and at least one case in five other schools in the province.
This past January, hospitals were flooded after two strains of the flu plus the respiratory virus all peaked at the same time. If a second or third wave of COVID hits, there will be an even bigger need for beds and resources.
Siragusa said they have been preparing for this potential.
“We have been planning for many months, making sure we have the staff and the space and the supplies available to deliver to the population of Manitoba, it has been all hands on deck,” she said, noting there will be bigger spaces in clinics to allow for better physical distancing, more hand sanitizer and signage.
The province’s top nurse also said last year was a good example of how the health system was able to adapt to the spike in flu cases and that it should be able to again this year.
“I think we’re even more better prepared,” she said. “We have protocols, we have regular teams who we have been working with because of COVID and we have many back-up plans as to when we need to accelerate or expand.”
The province will likely launch its flu shot campaign in October, though no date has been finalized.
Twitter: @JoshAldrich03
Source:- Winnipeg Sun
