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Kandola says it's important to get flu shot, now more than ever

Kim Tregidgo, left, gets a flu shot in November of last year from Judy Steele, the manager of primary care and community health with the Hay River Health and Social Services Authority.
NNSL file photo

Dr. Kami Kandola, the NWT's chief public health officer, says that people should get the flu shot this year, now more than ever because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

"Getting the flu shot has never been more important than this year for a number of reasons," said Kandola during a media availability on Aug. 12.

For one thing, she doesn't think that a vaccine for Covid-19 will be ready before the coming flu season begins.

Kandola noted that, as adults return to work and children return to daycares and schools, there are more common colds, flu activity and a number of other respiratory infections.

"If you do get your flu shot, it's just one less respiratory infection that you don't have to worry about," she said.

Kandola said her recommendation to members of the public is to get the flu shot.

"Because if you do get flu-like symptoms, the last thing you want to be stressing about is is this flu or is this Covid," she said.

Health officials in Canada are predicting that there may be an increase in Covid-19 cases over the fall and winter, either as rising and falling spikes in the number of cases or a larger wave of new infections.