VACCINE RESOURCE COMMITTEE

of the Edmonton Zone Medical Staff Association

View Full List of Vaccine Questions Here

Influenza Vaccine Question #1:

Why should people get the vaccine?

Getting a yearly influenza vaccine lowers the chances of having serious complications or dying of influenza infection.

The influenza vaccine is the best defense against influenza infection. The influenza vaccine is recommended every year in the fall or winter, ideally before the influenza season starts;  almost everyone who is at least 6 months of age should be vaccinated.

The flu vaccine protects by:

  • helping prevent serious flu-related complications including:

    • worsening of chronic health conditions

    • heart complications

    • pneumonia and respiratory failure

    • hospitalization

    • death

  • reducing chances of getting influenza at the same time as other respiratory illnesses, which could make a person very sick

  • protecting the health care system from becoming overwhelmed during respiratory illness season

The influenza vaccine also helps protect people close contacts because a person is less likely to spread the virus when vaccinated.

Every year, different strains of influenza circulate during the influenza season. In addition:

  • influenza viruses can change over time

  • protection from the influenza vaccine wears off over time

The World Health Organization studies worldwide trends and recommends the strains to be included each year in the annual influenza vaccine.

The global death toll of the 2009 influenza pandemic is estimated to be 123,000 to 203,000,  1968 influenza pandemic 1 million, 1957-58 influenza pandemic 1.1 million and 1918 influenza pandemic 50 million. 

In Canada, influenza and pneumonia were the 8th leading cause of death in 2020 with 5,931 deaths.

In Alberta, from August 25, 2024 to December 28, 2024 the number of hospitalizations, ICU admissions and deaths by age were:

In past years, for Alberta the number hospitalizations, ICU admissions and deaths were:

Vaccination recommendations

Adults and children 9 years of age and older should receive 1 dose of influenza vaccine each year.

Children from 6 months to less than 9 years of age who have never had an influenza vaccine before should receive 2 doses. It's recommended that the interval between doses be at least 4 weeks apart during the current influenza season.

Only 1 dose is needed for children 6 months to less than 9 years of age who have been vaccinated with 1 or more doses of the influenza vaccine in any previous season.

It's especially important for some people to get the influenza vaccine, including those:

  • who are at risk of severe illness

  • at risk of spreading the influenza to people at high risk of complications

 Sources:

Government of Canada: Flu (influenza): Get your flu vaccine (flu shot)
Immunize Canada: Vaccine-Preventable Diseases: Influenza
Alberta Government: Respiratory virus dashboard