NS flu season is expected to peak early this year, province’s top doctor says

Dr. Robert Strang says the peak of flu season in Nova Scotia typically falls in late December and early January, but it’s expected to be earlier in the province this year.

Typically, the flu spreads from west to east in Canada, meaning Nova Scotia lags behind other parts of the country.

“We’re already seeing an increase in central Canada over the last few weeks,” said Strang, Nova Scotia’s chief medical officer of health.

He said this has a significant impact on the province’s health care system as increased gatherings of people around the Christmas holidays increase the chance of infection. Additionally, the health care system is typically understaffed during the holidays.

Strang is encouraging people to get flu vaccinations.

Which flu strain is most effective?

He said early data shows the dominant flu strain circulating in Canada is influenza A (H3N2).

Unfortunately, the vaccine currently being offered is not the best fit for this strain.

“This does not mean that the vaccine will still not provide protection against severe disease, particularly from the H3N2 strain … but perhaps less than we expected,” Strang said.

He said this is not unusual because decisions about purchasing vaccines are made about six months before the actual flu season.

Strang said the current vaccine provides good protection against other forms of influenza, namely A (H1N1) and B.

In light of the mismatch, Strang said it becomes even more important for people to take other precautionary steps, such as wearing a mask in crowded indoor spaces, staying home when sick, washing hands and practicing “cough into the trough” or “sneeze into the sleeve.”

flu shots for kids

One concern with the A(H3N2) flu strain is that it “has historically been associated with more severe outcomes and increased demands on the health system, particularly among children and older adults,” Strang wrote in a letter that was provided to health care officials and doctors on Wednesday.

Children are eligible for the flu vaccine when they are six months old. However, children under nine should get two doses when they get a flu shot for the first time.

Strang is also urging pregnant women to get vaccinated. Otherwise, not only are they at increased risk of serious illness, but their unborn baby is also at greater risk of premature birth or other complications.

Strang said women who are vaccinated during pregnancy provide some protection to their unborn baby.

“What we call passive immunity is the transfer of immunity from mother to baby through the placenta, before birth, but also, if the mother is breastfeeding, that passive immunity continues through breast milk,” Strang said.

COVID-19 Update

He is also encouraging people to get the COVID-19 shot. He said there has been a modest wave of COVID-19 over the past few weeks, which is in line with the declining waves typically seen in the province.

according to province’s respiratory watch dashboardThere have been 22 COVID-19 deaths since Aug. 24, marking the start of the province’s respiratory season.

This year, Nova Scotia expands availability Free RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) vaccine program for senior citizens and children. Strang is also encouraging people to take advantage of this program.

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