SHARE ON: |
| |
| |
 |
 |
|
|
Saskatoon pharmacist Graham Houk says it’s especially important to get your flu shot this fall, as both seasonal influenza and COVID-19 circulate in the population.
“We’ve made it convenient, we’ve made it safe for patients to get these flu shots in pharmacies. We’ve upped a lot of our cleaning, our sanitizing, our universal precautions with people so they can feel comfortable, they can feel safe coming to a pharmacy to be vaccinated for the flu this year,” said Houk, who has worked with Loblaw’s pharmacies for eight years.
He noted two main concerns of the so-called twindemic.
“One is because the flu and COVID-19 share some similar symptoms, we run the risk of overloading our healthcare system with people unsure, is it the flu, is it COVID-19. The second concern is that people that come down with the flu, that become ill with the flu, that is a predisposing factor to potentially allowing a COVID-19 infection on top of that, which could make things worse for them.”
Even though the flu vaccine isn’t going to prevent COVID-19, it will help alleviate worries about double infection, he said.
“Ultimately, when we talk about the twindemic, we are trying to protect our health care system from becoming overwhelmed.”
About 3,500 people die in Canada each year from the flu, with 12,000 to 13,000 people hospitalized, he said. Canada has seen 191,732 COVID-19 cases to date, with 9,699 deaths.
The long term implications of a COVID-19 infection aren’t known, he said.
“Hypothetically, a person comes down with COVID-19, has minor, moderate symptoms, they recover, what are the ramifications down the road? We don’t know that. So at the end of the day were really just out here trying to help people understand that reducing your chance of infection is your best step.”
Many of the symptoms can be similar between the two illnesses - it can be tricky to tell the difference, he said.
“Both the flu and COVID-19, you’re going to have tiredness, fatigue, fever. The big difference that some people with COVID-19 are presenting with is shortness of breath. The flu doesn’t generally present with shortness of breath.
“But regardless of which symptoms you have, if you have symptoms which are worrisome which you may think are COVID-19, we ask that you immediately reduce your contact with individuals and reach out to the appropriate health care professionals.”
Flu clinics will begin on Monday.
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
11 am |
| -2 ℃ |
| BROKEN CLOUDS |
WIND: SSE 11 KM/H
GUSTING TO 18 KM/H |
|
|
|
12 pm |
| -1 ℃ |
| BROKEN CLOUDS |
WIND: S 12 KM/H
GUSTING TO 16 KM/H |
|
|
|
1 pm |
| 0 ℃ |
| OVERCAST CLOUDS |
WIND: S 14 KM/H
GUSTING TO 19 KM/H |
|
|
|
2 pm |
| 2 ℃ |
| OVERCAST CLOUDS |
WIND: SSW 11 KM/H
GUSTING TO 20 KM/H |
|
|
|
3 pm |
| 3 ℃ |
| OVERCAST CLOUDS |
WIND: SSW 8 KM/H
GUSTING TO 16 KM/H |
|
|
|
4 pm |
| 4 ℃ |
| OVERCAST CLOUDS |
WIND: SSW 9 KM/H
GUSTING TO 10 KM/H |
|
|
|
5 pm |
| 3 ℃ |
| OVERCAST CLOUDS |
WIND: SW 9 KM/H
GUSTING TO 9 KM/H |
|
|
 |
6 pm |
| 2 ℃ |
| OVERCAST CLOUDS |
WIND: SW 9 KM/H
GUSTING TO 9 KM/H |
|
|
|
|
TODAY |
HIGH OF 4 ℃
LOW OF -4 ℃ |
| BROKEN CLOUDS |
|
|
|
SATURDAY |
HIGH OF 6 ℃
LOW OF 0 ℃ |
| BROKEN CLOUDS |
|
|
|
SUNDAY |
HIGH OF 7 ℃
LOW OF 1 ℃ |
| OVERCAST CLOUDS |
|
|
 |
MONDAY |
HIGH OF 8 ℃
LOW OF 3 ℃ |
| LIGHT RAIN |
|
|
 |
TUESDAY |
HIGH OF 0 ℃
LOW OF -6 ℃ |
| SNOW |
|
|
|
WEDNESDAY |
HIGH OF -7 ℃
LOW OF -17 ℃ |
| LIGHT SNOW |
|
|
|
THURSDAY |
HIGH OF -13 ℃
LOW OF -19 ℃ |
| OVERCAST CLOUDS |
|
|
|
FRIDAY |
HIGH OF -9 ℃
LOW OF -21 ℃ |
| LIGHT SNOW |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
| MEL Science Black Friday Sale – 50% Off! |
| |
| Dive into hands-on learning with MEL Science kits and save 50% this Black Friday. Perfect for curious kids and families! |
| |
| Black Friday savings end soon—get 50% off while it lasts! |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
 |
 |
EDDIE MONTGOMERY
AINT SHE BEAUTIFUL
11:08 AM |
|
 |
RASCAL FLATTS
SUMMER NIGHTS
11:04 AM |
|
 |
MADDIE AND TAE
KISSING COWBOYS
11:01 AM |
|
 |
TAYLOR AUSTIN DYE
ALMOST OKLAHOMA
10:57 AM |
|
 |
CARRIE UNDERWOOD
LET THERE BE PEACE
10:53 AM |
|
 |
CODY WEBB
TIN CAN
10:50 AM |
|
 |
EASTON CORBIN
ALL OVER THE ROAD
10:47 AM |
|
 |
COLE SWINDELL
SPANISH MOSS
10:41 AM |
|
 |
DYLAN MARLOWE
I NEVER MISS
10:38 AM |
|
 |
BLACKJACK BILLY
SUGAR CANE
10:34 AM |
|
 
 |
