Vaccine access challenges concern Calgary mom as experts warn of tough flu season

For some Albertans, accessing the flu shot has been confusing and time-consuming, adding to concerns that vaccine protection will be low this year.

Experts say the current respiratory virus season is revealing itself to be worrying, and vaccine access concerns aren’t easing matters.

One Calgary mom of four young children says accessing flu shots this fall has been cumbersome and time-consuming.

“This year has been quite complicated. We’ve never run into the roadblocks that we have,” said Jeanette Piddington.

“We need to go to three different buildings and make appointments through three different sources.”

Her oldest two children, six and eight years old, will get their shots at the nearby pharmacy.

For her four-year-old, she spent time on 811 and on the booking website, eventually getting an appointment across the city at a northeast community health clinic on Monday afternoon.

“We’re in a first-world country with universal health care. We should be able to book online, walk in within a week and get your children and yourself vaccinated,” said Piddington.

If her baby daughter can’t get the flu shot at the six-month routine vaccine appointment, she’ll be back online trying to find a cancellation at a community clinic, even if it’s located outside her community.

She says this has tarnished her trust in the province’s public health strategy.

“This is purposeful. There’s no way,” she said.

Tough flu season

According to medical doctors and scientists, Canada’s flu season is expected to be a tough one.

The dominant strain of influenza—H3N2—has caused serious illness in the United Kingdom and Australia.

Both are considered early predictors of what’s headed to North America.

“H3N2 can tend to be a little bit more severe; more importantly, our vaccines are not quite as good at dealing with that,” said Dr. James Dickinson, director of the Alberta Community Respiratory Viral Surveillance Program.

Dickinson says this could mean there will be more breakthrough infections.

He also expects “explosive increases soon,” after the Alberta Teachers’ Association strike ended with back-to-school legislation.

Alberta posts a record of respiratory viruses online.

A woman in her 60s has died of influenza so far this season.

Eight people have been admitted to intensive care units.

Alberta is counting about 10 per cent coverage with influenza doses.

Infectious disease experts say it’s still worthwhile to get vaccinated, as it covers multiple strains.

“The good news is the vaccine continues to protect. It’s not as good as it could be, but it still works. It lowers the risk of severe disease,” said Craig Jenne, infectious disease expert at the University of Calgary.

Jenne says vaccines administered in Canada are a mix and offer protection to multiple strains.

“Even if we are getting a mismatch on one strain, there’s still remarkably good protection for the other strains in the flu shot,” he said.

A former chief medical officer of health says additional barriers to vaccine rollout for influenza and COVID-19 mean more illness will spread.

Dr. James Talbot continues to be an adjunct professor at the University of Alberta and says Alberta hospitals are already operating over capacity, and significant viral spread will overwhelm the health-care system.

“We don’t have the capacity to absorb significant amounts of activity from influenza or COVID or both,” he said.

Talbot says there’s been confusion about where to get vaccines for either illness.

Albertans can no longer access a COVID vaccine at a pharmacy; however, pharmacists continue to provide flu shots at no cost.

“Decreasing immunization rates (are) directly related to government lack of support for the programs and increasingly confused government approach,” Talbot said.

CTV News received a statement from the Ministry of Primary and Preventative Health Services:

“Many factors influence influenza trends, including viral changes, circulation patterns, behavioural factors and global trends. Global surveillance suggests this year’s vaccine may not perfectly match the dominant H3N2 strain. That said, it’s still too early to predict how severe the influenza season will be in Alberta or the impact of respiratory viruses overall on the health system. Flu is highly variable, but admissions and test positivity so far are increasing roughly in line with recent years. At the same time, recent COVID admissions are a fraction of those we’ve seen in recent years,” the statement read.

“Albertans aged six months and older can receive a free influenza vaccine at public health clinics, select physician clinics and pharmacies (for those five years and older). In addition to vaccination, Primary and Preventative Health Services reminds all Albertans that the best ways to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, including influenza, are to stay home when sick, wash or sanitize hands frequently, cover coughs and sneezes, avoid touching your face and clean and disinfect surfaces regularly.

“Even with a partial mismatch, immunization remains effective at reducing the risk of severe illness, hospitalization and complications. The current vaccine protects against multiple influenza strains, not just the H3N2 subtype.”

CTV News also received a statement from the Ministry of Hospital and Surgical Health Services:

“Alberta’s government is committed to keeping hospitals ready for the upcoming respiratory virus season,” it read.

“It’s why we’ve dedicated 336 hospital beds across Alberta for the respiratory virus season, with 206 funded year-round and an additional 130 added during peak months. Alberta Health Services and Covenant Health have plans to open surge beds, reconfigure spaces and maximize virtual hospital capacity as needed.

Staffing and physician supports are in place, and recruitment continues to operationalize seasonal capacity. Real-time monitoring through Alberta’s respiratory virus dashboard allows adjustments to keep emergency and inpatient care accessible. These measures are designed to manage increased demand and maintain safe, timely care for Albertans."