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are you getting your flu shot? rexall survey says close to half of canadians are opting out or undecided

the number of canadians opting for a flu vaccine is just over 50 per cent, leaving vulnerable populations at a higher risk for grave complications.

by angelica bottaro

sep 10 2024

5 minute read

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getting your flu shot protects you and people who are more vulnerable – children, older adults, pregnant women and people who are immunocompromised – from severe infection. getty images

a new survey conducted by rexall has found that 48 per cent of canadians are either undecided about getting their flu shot, or have already decided to forgo the vaccination.

for many, the seasonal flu is a simple illness that clears up quickly. lucky individuals often recover from the viral infection after only a few days’ rest, plenty of liquids, and some serious fighting from their immune systems. that said, others are not so lucky.

specific populations, such as young children, older adults, pregnant people, and those who are immunocompromised or living with other chronic health conditions, including asthma, diabetes, and heart disease, do not have the same experience with influenza.

these populations are at a higher risk for severe disease, hospitalization, and, in the worst cases, death from infection complications. because of this, getting an annual flu shot is a viable and readily available prevention measure that can keep these people feel safer in the midst of flu season.

the survey data

in canada, roughly 35 per cent of all survey participants say they will not get the vaccine, with 13 per cent stating they are undecided.

canadians under the age of 54 are more often than not skipping the vaccine. the survey data showed that only 41 per cent of people in that age group will be getting vaccinated. parents who have young children are also forgoing vaccinations at a rate of 60 per cent.

according to the survey, the reasons behind the lack of vaccinations in the country include personal beliefs and feeling as though they don’t need to get vaccinated because the flu does not affect them as severely as it does others.

in a recent study further examining the “why” behind people’s reluctance to get vaccinated, data showed that healthy people chose not to because they “never get the flu” at a rate of 5.8 per cent, along with those who did not believe they were at a high risk of severe complications at a rate of 3.4 per cent.

for 13.6 percent of people, fears or concerns surrounding the side effects of the vaccine were the biggest reasons for refraining from the shot, while 3.4 per cent and 2.2 per cent of people didn’t believe the shots worked or didn’t believe in vaccines, respectively.

the most commonly reported reasons for not getting vaccinated were no reason at all, at a rate of 19.9 per cent, and people simply not getting around to it due to their busy lives, at a rate of 16.9 per cent.

flu season and the community impact of the vaccine

flu season affects various people in different ways. those below the age of five and those over 65 are the most likely to experience hospitalizations due to the flu, stemming from severe manifestations of the infection.

each year, roughly 12,200 canadians will have to be hospitalized due to the flu and related complications.

death is also more common in older adults, a grave complication of the flu that many healthy individuals don’t have to worry about. in 2022, close to 6,000 canadians died from the flu in canada, with those over the age of 65 making up the majority of deaths.

that said, those between the ages of 20 to 64 can still experience death due to severe flu infections. as reported by statista , 574 people in that age group died due to flu infection and complications.

in children under the age of 26, 10 deaths were reported in that same year.

healthy individuals who opt to get the vaccine are protected against the flu at a rate of 50 per cent, with the risk of developing severe infection and complications also being reduced by 50 per cent when vaccinated.

vulnerable groups also get protection against the flu when vaccinated, reducing their chance of going to the hospital for treatment and experiencing grave complications due to the infection.

the community impact stems from the fact that the flu vaccine is not 100 per cent effective in any population, so those who opt out of it altogether can still transmit the flu infection, even if they don’t get sick or are only mildly ill.

when vulnerable populations who are vaccinated get the flu, there is still a higher risk of death or other harmful complications. this risk is even higher in these populations if they are unvaccinated, which can be especially dangerous for children who can only get vaccinated under their parents’ guardianship.

how to protect yourself from the flu

getting vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself and others in your community against the flu. health canada recommends that everyone six months and older get the vaccine yearly, as its effectiveness does not last longer than one season.

adults and children over six months should get one vaccine dose each year. however, in children between six months and nine years old, two doses are required if it is their first time getting the flu vaccine.

in some cases, people may not get the flu vaccine because they do not have adequate information about what it is, does, or how it will affect them, so the first step in getting the flu shot is educating oneself about it.

the flu shot is considered an inactivated vaccine. it uses culture-grown virus particles to alert the immune system so that immune cells can learn about the specific strain and develop antibodies to it. if the virus does come back around, the immune system is ready.

the virus particles injected into the body cannot replicate, so the vaccine is needed yearly to ensure that the body still has protective antibodies against it.

the side effects associated with flu vaccines are mild and dissipate within a few days. they typically include flu-like symptoms, including fever, a low-grade headache, muscles, and fatigue. redness, soreness, and mild swelling at the injection site can also occur in some individuals after the flu vaccine. less than 40 per cent of people will experience these mild effects.

other measures you can take to prevent the flu include:

avoiding touching your face, eyes, or nose unless you have washed your hands first
keep your hands clean, especially after touching publicly used objects, such as handrails or doorknobs
clean common and highly used surfaces, such as remotes, door handles, taps in the washroom, and cell phones
avoid others if you become ill, or stay away from others who you know are sick
cough or sneeze into the bend of your arm as opposed to your hand
use hand sanitizer with at least 60 per cent alcohol if you are unable to wash your hands

protecting yourself from the flu starts with good practices, but getting the flu vaccination will help reduce your risk of getting sick or experiencing severe illness while protecting vulnerable people around you from those same things.

angelica bottaro

angelica bottaro is the lead editor at healthing.ca, and has been content writing for over a decade, specializing in all things health. her goal as a health journalist is to bring awareness and information to people that they can use as an additional tool toward their own optimal health.

are you getting your flu shot? rexall survey says close to half of canadians are opting out or undecided

the number of canadians opting for a flu vaccine is just over 50 per cent, leaving vulnerable populations at a higher risk for grave complications.

the survey data

is it covid, flu or rsv? new survey reveals older canadians not aware of rsv despite health risks

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are you getting your flu shot? rexall survey says close to half of canadians are opting out or undecided

the number of canadians opting for a flu vaccine is just over 50 per cent, leaving vulnerable populations at a higher risk for grave complications.

the survey data

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