‘Twindemic’ emerges with experts predicting more cases of the flu this season – Okanagan

As COVID-19 restrictions ease and companies return to normalcy, consultants are predicting a nasty flu season opposite to final yr.

Dr. Ran Goldman, a pediatrician, and professor within the college of drugs at UBC says folks ought to put together for extra viruses to run rampant this yr.

“This yr because the financial system opens and youngsters are in school and we’re extra energetic, we’re anticipating that there can be a extra important season with influenza”, Dr. Goldman mentioned.

The information comes after BC well being officers introduced that the flu shot can be free for everybody aged six months or older.

The anticipated comeback of influenza is among the causes Dr. Goldman is encouraging folks to get their flu shot – though it doesn’t eradicate the chance of getting influenza, it helps guarantee folks don’t get severely sick with the flu.

“The vaccine is stopping issues comparable to pneumonia and different critical and uncommon issues and by stopping these we’re saving lives. So, if everyone seems to be vaccinated, they’re going to be shielded from the flu and its issues which is very true for older people in addition to youthful kids […] and my suggestion can be for everybody to roll up their sleeves and get the shot.”

Pharmacists are actually seeing extra folks lining as much as get their flu shot – some who’ve by no means gotten immunized previously.

Justin Dovale, a pharmacist and co-owner of Two Good Guys pharmacy in Kelowna, says he’s seeing extra younger folks than standard coming in for a shot.

“The relative requirement for COVID-19 immunization possible has immunization on the forefront of everybody’s minds and you recognize for instance an in any other case wholesome 30 yr outdated who didn’t essentially fall into an eligibility group for the flu ought to have possible been immunized for COVID-19 and assume will the flu shot simply is sensible”, Dovale mentioned.

With each COVID-19 and influenza in our communities, Dr. Goldman explains that it’s troublesome to distinguish between signs of the 2 viruses.

“We do know that influenza is affecting extra kids in that it’s a fairly important sickness within the first two or three days. COVID however is a little bit of a sluggish development of signs and will take longer to look however it is extremely troublesome to distinguish. The one manner to try this is to take a check for COVID”, Dr. Goldman added.

Anybody focused on getting a flu shot can achieve this without cost at pharmacies all through the province.