Health officials prepare for triple-threat flu season

Influenza, COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus are all expected to be major factors this year.

Dr. Johnmark Opondo, communicable disease medical health officer with the Saskatchewan Health Authority, explained that health experts analyze flu seasons in other parts of the world to help predict what the season will be like here.

Opondo said health officials are expecting this season to hit early and hard.

“This year, in the Southern Hemisphere, the flu season was quite rough,” said Opondo. “It was a pretty early start, and it was pretty rocky.”

Opondo explained what that could mean for the Northern Hemisphere and for Saskatchewan.

“We are getting ready for what could potentially be a big year,” Opondo said. “It’s not going to be as big as a pandemic, but I think the public may have forgotten that influenza is quite a serious disease.”

According to Opondo, influenza is still one of the leading causes of hospitalizations and death in Saskatchewan.

Doctors also look back at previous flu seasons to help determine what the upcoming season could look like, and Opondo said this year could be very similar to last year, when respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was a concern for the health authority.

“Last year, we were dealing with influenza, RSV, and COVID, and we had a particularly big RSV season,” said Opondo. “We are thinking this year we are going to see all three viruses again.”

Opondo said those viruses have largely become seasonal.

“COVID is a funny one, because it kind of continues throughout the year, but during the summer months it recedes but continues at a low level,” said Opondo. “COVID then picks back up as people move back indoors.”

According to Opondo, the three viruses affect different age groups.

“RSV is pushing on little ones, while COVID and influenza tend to affect more middle-aged and elderly people,” said Opondo. “RSV also affects elderly people who are immunocompromised.”

Planning and preparing vaccines for the upcoming flu season can be a lot of work, as health experts almost have to predict how each virus is going to mutate before the season begins.

Opondo said they begin planning for the next flu season almost immediately after the current season ends.

“In April and May, teams are beginning to put their plans on paper for what we are going to do next respiratory season,” said Opondo.

According to Opondo, mass vaccination clinics at locations like Prairieland Park in Saskatoon are planned to begin on Oct. 10.

New Moderna vaccine gets green light

Health Canada on Tuesday authorized the use of an updated Moderna vaccine for COVID-19 for all Canadians over the age of six months.

The new vaccine targets the XBB.1.5 variant of the virus that causes COVID-19.

The decision says the vaccine can be given in a single dose to everyone five and older.

For children between six months and four years of age, one dose is recommended for those previously vaccinated against COVID-19. For children in that age group who have not been vaccinated, two doses are recommended.

— With files from The Canadian Press