Alberta's flu death toll highest in at least 16 years as vaccination rates drop
Alberta has experienced its deadliest flu season in recent memory and it's not over yet.
According to provincial data, 193 Albertans have died due to influenza so far this season, surpassing last year's total of 175.
That's the highest death toll since at least 2009.
The previous major peak, in 2022-23, was 123 flu deaths.
Death rates, based on population, are also the highest in at least 16 years.
"I'm concerned now that after seeing this trend now for three years that this is becoming the new normal," said Craig Jenne, a professor in the department of microbiology, immunology and infectious diseases at the University of Calgary.
While weekly case counts are dropping, influenza continues to take a toll. According to Alberta's respiratory virus dashboard, there are still 172 people hospitalized due to influenza and nine patients are in intensive care.
"We continue seeing patients present to hospital with influenza," said Dr. Shelley Duggan, president of the Alberta Medical Association and a critical care specialist based in Edmonton.
"We're still admitting them to the intensive care unit. We are still seeing outbreaks on hospital wards. We are still seeing patients who are getting influenza in hospital. So it's quite unusual."
According to Duggan, the pressure on hospitals due to influenza is usually easing up by this time of year.
Alberta Health said a number of factors can impact flu trends, including the predominant viral strain, individual behaviours and global trends.
"This season saw increased co-circulation of both H1N1 and H3N2 influenza A strains. H3N2, in particular, is known to cause more severe illness in older adults," a spokesperson said in an emailed statement.
"Alberta Health continuously monitors respiratory virus laboratory data, as well as hospitalizations and deaths related to influenza, COVID-19 and RSV. In addition, respiratory outbreaks in high-risk settings — such as long-term care facilities — are actively managed by Alberta Health Services and Public Health teams to help limit spread and protect vulnerable populations."
Immunization campaigns
"It's clear the status quo right now is not having an effect. And that is evidenced now by three records in a row of influenza deaths," said Jenne.
He's concerned about Alberta's vaccination rates, which have plummeted in recent years.
"I worry because many of these may be preventable deaths," said Jenne, who is also the deputy director of the Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases.
Publicly available data shows 21 per cent of Albertans have received a flu shot this season.
That's the lowest uptake since 2009-10, when just 20 per cent rolled up their sleeves for an influenza vaccine.
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, flu vaccination rates rose to 37 per cent. Prior to the pandemic, in 2018-19, that immunization rate was 31 per cent.
"Years where we had high vaccine uptake we definitely saw reduced fatalities … and in years where vaccine rates dropped off, unfortunately we did see upticks in hospitalizations and deaths," said Jenne.
He's calling on health officials to investigate the relationship between dropping vaccination rates and increasing deaths.
Jenne is worried public health messaging is waning in Alberta and he's calling for a new approach.
"Past years, there had been very public campaigns about flu shot clinics opening and, unfortunately, in the last several years, those have been much more muted," he said.
He noted the number of Albertans without a family doctor to remind them about flu vaccination has grown.
Duggan is also calling on the province to improve its fall immunization campaign and outreach.
"It's important that we consider going into next year that we really need to be more aggressive and more conscious with a flu campaign and getting people vaccinated," she said.
The province said all Albertans six months of age and older were eligible to receive a free flu shot again this season, and the universal immunization program will be available for the 2025-26 flu season
"It's important to note that declining influenza vaccination rates are being observed across the country and are not unique to Alberta," the Alberta Health spokesperson said, noting key information is available through the province's respiratory virus dashboard.
"Messaging is also shared at regular intervals via social media, with announcements on vaccine availability made in advance of each season. Alberta Health Services leads seasonal immunization campaigns during the peak respiratory virus period, using TV, radio, print, outdoor and digital advertising to reach Albertans."
Alberta Health said it standardized influenza death reporting during the 2020-21 flu season so it's likely more deaths were captured from that point on.
It also started including community deaths due to influenza, in addition to hospital deaths, during the 2021-22 flu season. Community deaths have accounted for between five and 16 flu deaths a year since counting began.
Meanwhile, Duggan wants Albertans to know influenza can be deadly at any age.
"We are seeing young people — maybe people in their 40s who might have diabetes who are getting influenza [and] who are then also getting another bacterial pneumonia on top of it — and unfortunately they can still die," she said.
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