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Flu shot safe: chief medical officer Health officials test spray vaccine for childrenSvjetlana Mlinarevic Northern News Services Published Wednesday, Nov 7, 2012
"I've been getting the flu shot for 10 years and I have no concerns taking it. It doesn't hurt. It's fast and easy," said Ioan Astle as she sat in the clinic waiting room. Since the recall of the Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine, chief public health officer Dr. Andre Corriveau wants to assure the public the vaccine administered by public health nurses is safe. "It's important for people to know we have many manufacturers of the vaccine in Canada. We are not relying on one manufacturer, we have three major manufacturers. In the NWT our supply is based in Quebec so there are no issues," he said, noting the issue of clumping or cloudiness in the vaccine is a matter of effectiveness and not safety. Although numbers for 2012 have yet to be determined, the GNWT gave out 9,300 doses of the $6.60 vaccine in 2011 across the NWT. "I can reassure people that the system is working and we are vigilant about protecting people," said Corriveau. People who should get a flu shot, according to the GNWT website, are children between six months to five years of age; pregnant women; adults 65 and older, individuals who are extremely overweight; people living in chronic care facilities; individuals with chronic medical conditions such as lung disease, including asthma, heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease or cancer; health care workers; families with infants less than six months of age or those expecting a newborn; individuals who provide childcare on a regular basis to children less than 24 months of age; and individuals who work in closed settings with people at high risk. "I get it every year," said Marshirette Mauricio, who is 14 weeks pregnant. "I was scared for the side-effects because at night I get a fever (after receiving the shot). I was nervous (to get it because I'm pregnant) and the public health nurse said it was safe and I needed it more because I'm pregnant." Corriveau said the vaccine is very effective. "The strains reported this year are very well matched with the vaccine. Unless (a new flu strain) comes up, we're in a good position this year," said Corriveau. Every year the government tries to predict the following year's strain of flu virus and match a vaccine to it, according to Corriveau. Some years the vaccine matches the virus perfectly and there is a 100 per cent protection success rate and other years the success rate is lower. New to this year's flu clinic is the introduction of a nasal spray for children. "We have a pilot project this year. This year we're testing a new vaccine for kids, it's nasal drops instead of a needle," said Corriveau. "If we get a good result we'll make it a normal vaccine for kids under 18 years old." Corriveau said the United States has been using nasal drops for a few years but further testing is still needed in Canada regarding administration of the vaccine, but not with its effectiveness or safety. "We know the vaccine is safe and it works but we don't know the best way to implement the vaccine," he said. "(Getting the spray) is not as bad as getting a needle. It felt like a pool of water was in my nose and some of it dripped down my throat," said Conrad Salbor, 12, a student at St. Joseph School. "I prefer the spray. It feels more natural to have someone spray it in my nose instead of someone pricking me with a needle." The Department of Health and Social Services will administer the $11 nasal drips across the territory to 1,000 children from ages two to 17 as part of the pilot program.
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