Alberta Medical Association is advocating for an enhanced immunization campany

The Alberta Medical Association is advocating for an enhanced immunization campaign this fall. This flu season, 193 individuals in Alberta have succumbed to the illness. Recent provincial statistics reveal that 172 patients are currently hospitalized with influenza, nine of whom are receiving intensive care.

Alberta is experiencing its deadliest flu season in years, and the situation has yet to stabilize. According to official data, the current death count of 193 has surpassed the previous year's total of 175, marking the highest toll since at least 2009. The last significant peak, during the 2022-23 season, recorded 123 flu deaths. The mortality rates, adjusted for population size, are the highest seen in over 16 years.
"I'm concerned that after observing this trend for three consecutive years, we may be facing a new normal," remarked Craig Jenne, a professor in the Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Infectious Diseases at the University of Calgary. Despite a decline in weekly case numbers, influenza continues to exert significant pressure on the healthcare system. As Alberta's respiratory virus dashboard indicates, there are still 172 individuals hospitalized due to influenza, with nine in intensive care. Dr. Shelley Duggan, president of the Alberta Medical Association and a critical care physician in Edmonton, stated, "We are still admitting patients with influenza to the ICU and managing outbreaks in hospital wards.

Even in hospitals, patients are contracting influenza, which is quite unusual." With flu season intensifying across North America, Alberta's death toll has reached a 15-year high, rallying calls for improved immunization efforts. Typically, hospital pressure from influenza lessens by this point in the year, but that has not been the case this season. Alberta Health noted that various factors, including the dominant viral strain and public behavior, influence flu trends. A spokesperson explained, "This season has seen an increase in co-circulation of both H1N1 and H3N2 influenza A strains.

H3N2 is known to cause more severe illness, particularly in older adults." Alberta Health continuously monitors data on respiratory viruses, hospitalizations, and deaths related to influenza, COVID-19, and RSV. Furthermore, outbreaks in high-risk settings are proactively managed by Alberta Health Services and Public Health teams to minimize spread and protect vulnerable populations. Professor Jenne expressed concern over Alberta's declining vaccination rates, which have fallen in recent years. "I worry because many of these deaths could be preventable," he stated. Public data indicates that only 21 percent of Albertans have received a flu shot this season—the lowest rate since 2009-10, when only 20 percent were vaccinated. During the COVID-19 pandemic's peak, vaccination coverage rose to 37 percent; prior to that, in the 2018-19 season, it was 31 percent. "We've clearly seen that years with high vaccine coverage lead to fewer fatalities, while drops in vaccination rates correlate with increases in hospitalizations and deaths," Jenne remarked. He is urging health officials to explore the link between decreasing vaccination rates and rising mortality rates. Concerned about waning public health messaging in Alberta, he insists a renewed approach is necessary.
"In previous years, there were more prominent campaigns about flu shot clinics, but those have become much less visible in recent years," he noted, adding that an increasing number of Albertans lack a family doctor to remind them about vaccination.

Dr. Duggan also emphasizes the need for the province to enhance its fall immunization campaign and outreach efforts. "As we look to next year, we must be more proactive and aware in our flu vaccination efforts," she advised. Alberta Health has stated that all Albertans aged six months and older are eligible to receive a free flu shot this season, and the universal immunization program will continue through the 2025-26 flu season. However, a spokesperson mentioned that declining vaccination rates are a trend seen across Canada, not just in Alberta. Key information is available on the province's respiratory virus dashboard, and Alberta Health Services conducts seasonal vaccination campaigns using multiple media channels to reach the population. Additionally, Alberta Health standardized influenza death reporting starting in the 2020-21 flu season, likely leading to more comprehensive death counts from that point onward. They also began including community deaths from influenza in the 2021-22 season, which have accounted for five to 16 deaths annually since tracking commenced. Dr. Duggan wants to underscore that influenza can be life-threatening regardless of age. "We're seeing younger individuals, such as those in their 40s with diabetes, contracting influenza and sometimes developing secondary bacterial pneumonia, which can result in fatalities," she warned. "It's an issue we should take seriously.