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Almost half get H1N1 vaccination in Saskatchewan
By Angela Hall, Leader-PostJanuary 14, 2010 4:57 PM
REGINA ? There's little flu to be found in Saskatchewan right now, but residents without an H1H1 shot should still get immunized, the province's chief medical health officer said Thursday.
"Pandemics in the past have always had a sting in the tail ? a third wave," Dr. Moira McKinnon told reporters.
"We think that we might not get the third wave if we have enough people immunized."
Nearly 50 per cent of the general population in Saskatchewan has received the H1N1 shot ? the highest rate in the prairies and among the best in the country, McKinnon said.
But a vaccination rate of 65 to 70 per cent would ideally be achieved, she said, noting shots are still available through the health regions by appointment.
British Columbia's vaccination is about 35 per cent, while some Atlantic provinces are between 60 and 70 per cent, McKinnon said.
In Saskatchewan, seven out of 10 primary school children are vaccinated but young men are the laggards. Just 22 per cent of males between the ages of 18 and 34 have been vaccinated, compared to 39 per cent of females in that age range.
McKinnon was joined at the press conference by three members of the Regina Pats ? Garrett Mitchell, Matt Strueby and Colten Teubert ? who urged other young men to follow their lead and get vaccinated.
"We did it as a team ... it's not very painful," Teubert said.
He speculated that other young people may not have bothered to get the shot because of a "too cool factor," or because they just had other things on their mind.
"But I mean this is the real deal and I think we need to fight it. Go get your shot. Get off the couch, quit playing your video game and go get your shot," Teubert said.
Pregnant women and people with chronic health conditions should also make sure they get immunized, McKinnon added.
Vaccinations conducted on Saskatchewan First Nations were not included in the province's publicly released statistics, but McKinnon said the response on reserves has been "well above 60 per cent."
McKinnon said the H1N1 response has rung up a price tag of about $30 million, which is line with the provincial government's earlier projections.
http://www.leaderpost.com/health/H1...ng+young+Saskatchewan+cent/2441752/story.html
By Angela Hall, Leader-PostJanuary 14, 2010 4:57 PM
REGINA ? There's little flu to be found in Saskatchewan right now, but residents without an H1H1 shot should still get immunized, the province's chief medical health officer said Thursday.
"Pandemics in the past have always had a sting in the tail ? a third wave," Dr. Moira McKinnon told reporters.
"We think that we might not get the third wave if we have enough people immunized."
Nearly 50 per cent of the general population in Saskatchewan has received the H1N1 shot ? the highest rate in the prairies and among the best in the country, McKinnon said.
But a vaccination rate of 65 to 70 per cent would ideally be achieved, she said, noting shots are still available through the health regions by appointment.
British Columbia's vaccination is about 35 per cent, while some Atlantic provinces are between 60 and 70 per cent, McKinnon said.
In Saskatchewan, seven out of 10 primary school children are vaccinated but young men are the laggards. Just 22 per cent of males between the ages of 18 and 34 have been vaccinated, compared to 39 per cent of females in that age range.
McKinnon was joined at the press conference by three members of the Regina Pats ? Garrett Mitchell, Matt Strueby and Colten Teubert ? who urged other young men to follow their lead and get vaccinated.
"We did it as a team ... it's not very painful," Teubert said.
He speculated that other young people may not have bothered to get the shot because of a "too cool factor," or because they just had other things on their mind.
"But I mean this is the real deal and I think we need to fight it. Go get your shot. Get off the couch, quit playing your video game and go get your shot," Teubert said.
Pregnant women and people with chronic health conditions should also make sure they get immunized, McKinnon added.
Vaccinations conducted on Saskatchewan First Nations were not included in the province's publicly released statistics, but McKinnon said the response on reserves has been "well above 60 per cent."
McKinnon said the H1N1 response has rung up a price tag of about $30 million, which is line with the provincial government's earlier projections.
http://www.leaderpost.com/health/H1...ng+young+Saskatchewan+cent/2441752/story.html