Influenza Immunization Program Update
June 1, 2020
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Published by the AHS Province Wide Immunization Program Team |
Issue 40, May 2020 |
Alberta’s Influenza Immunization Program provides publicly funded influenza vaccine for all individuals six months and older who live, work or attend school in Alberta.
The Influenza immunization Program for 2019-2020 is over. As of May 2, 2020: 1,438,866 doses of influenza vaccine were administered in Alberta. This equates to a provincial coverage rate of 32.9%, an increase of 2.8% over the 2018-2019 season.
Influenza data for the 2019-2020 season was reported on a weekly basis. Data included: number of doses of influenza vaccine administered by provider type across the province, number of laboratory confirmed cases of influenza, number of Albertans hospitalized with influenza disease and number of Albertans deceased who had lab confirmed influenza. Community providers can find this information on the Alberta Health Services website.
As of May 2, 2020:
- Alberta Health Services Public Health provided 314,343 doses.
- Community Pharmacists provided 878,820 doses.
- Other Providers (which include Alberta Health Services Non-Public Health sites, Long Term Care sites, Community Physicians, Alberta Health Services Workplace Health and Safety, Covenant Health Occupational Health and Safety and First Nation Inuit Health Branch) provided 245,703 doses.
Remaining Doses of Influenza Vaccine
As the 2019-2020 influenza season is over we ask our community partners to ensure all remaining doses of influenza vaccine are disposed of in an appropriate biohazard container. Influenza vaccine must also be reconciled on AVI as “Wasted” “Wasted/Influenza Season End”.
2020-2021 Season Planning
Work is underway preparing resources for the 2020-2021 season. It is expected that influenza vaccine will be available for a provincial start date of October 19, 2020. Vaccine may be available to provide for the Alberta Outreach Program as early as October 13, 2020.
Quadrivalent inactivated influenza vaccine will be the provincially funded product for use with the majority of Alberta residents in the upcoming season.
Alberta Health Services has been made aware that trivalent inactivated Fluzone® High Dose has been purchased nationally for persons 65 years of age and older who reside in long term care facilities. The exact eligibility criteria are under development. Persons 65 years of age and older who do not reside in a long term care facility will be eligible to receive quadrivalent inactivated influenza vaccine. Additional information will be provided in the next Influenza Immunization Program Update.
Zone contacts
North |
EdmontonJennifer Beaudry |
CentralWendy Malo |
CalgaryChristine Sikora |
SouthPublic Health Nursing Team |
