SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - The number of people getting flu shots this winter is way down compared to last year when the country was gripped with fears over the H1N1 virus.

"Only 20 per cent of the (NWT) population have got their flu vaccine," said Dr. Kami Kandola, chief public health officer with the Department of Health and Social Services.

"In some places it was as low as nine per cent."

Before Christmas there was one reported case of influenza; since then the number has increased to seven.

Influenza, or the flu, is an infection that affects the respiratory tract. Symptoms are a high fever, headaches, aches and pains, fatigue, a stuffy nose, sore throat and coughing.

Kandola said people at risk are the very young and the old as well as those with chronic illnesses.

Flu shots were first made available to city residents for this winter's flu season in October. Kandola said it's this time of year when flu cases are typically on the rise- a trend that she said is occurring all over the country right now.

"You don't want to wait for the flu to arrive because it may be too late," said Kandola.

She said the flu season usually lasts from October to the beginning of April.

Kandola recommends people get a flu shot, which covers three major flu strains and is still being offered free of charge at health centres.

Some 62 per cent of the territory's residents were immunized against H1N1 last year, the second highest percentage in the country, behind only Newfoundland and Labrador.

"People were seeing on the news how sick people got," said Kandola. "So once the vaccine arrived everyone lined up."

We welcome your opinions. Click here to e-mail a letter to the editor.