As child hospitalizations rise, all families urgently need flu shots: infectious disease expert – CTV
Dec. 8, 2022
More children are being admitted to hospitals across Canada amid a flu season crush exacerbated by a stretched health-care system and lack of vaccination, says an infectious disease expert.
Dr. Isaac Bogoch told CTV’s Your Morning Thursday that with the growing number of flu cases across the country, it’s paramount that all families receive their flu shots.
That includes “kids as young as six months, because we know those vaccines are safe, and they are widely available and they work. They can reduce the chances that someone gets influenza…and it can actually reduce the severity of infection,” he said.
According to Canada’s weekly flu reports, the weekly number of pediatric hospitalizations is now at levels typically seen during peak influenza season. In the week ending Nov. 26, there were 223 flu-associated hospitalizations.
