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.
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
12 pm |
| 4 ℃ |
| SCATTERED CLOUDS |
WIND: NNW 24 KM/H
GUSTING TO 31 KM/H |
|
|
 |
1 pm |
| 4 ℃ |
| BROKEN CLOUDS |
WIND: NNW 24 KM/H
GUSTING TO 31 KM/H |
|
|
|
2 pm |
| 4 ℃ |
| BROKEN CLOUDS |
WIND: N 24 KM/H
GUSTING TO 31 KM/H |
|
|
|
3 pm |
| 4 ℃ |
| BROKEN CLOUDS |
WIND: N 23 KM/H
GUSTING TO 30 KM/H |
|
|
|
4 pm |
| 4 ℃ |
| OVERCAST CLOUDS |
WIND: N 23 KM/H
GUSTING TO 30 KM/H |
|
|
|
5 pm |
| 4 ℃ |
| OVERCAST CLOUDS |
WIND: N 22 KM/H
GUSTING TO 31 KM/H |
|
|
|
6 pm |
| 4 ℃ |
| OVERCAST CLOUDS |
WIND: N 22 KM/H
GUSTING TO 30 KM/H |
|
|
|
7 pm |
| 4 ℃ |
| OVERCAST CLOUDS |
WIND: N 21 KM/H
GUSTING TO 27 KM/H |
|
|
|
|
TODAY |
HIGH OF 4 ℃
LOW OF -2 ℃ |
| SCATTERED CLOUDS |
|
|
|
WEDNESDAY |
HIGH OF 10 ℃
LOW OF -2 ℃ |
| SCATTERED CLOUDS |
|
|
|
THURSDAY |
HIGH OF 13 ℃
LOW OF 4 ℃ |
| OVERCAST CLOUDS |
|
|
 |
FRIDAY |
HIGH OF 11 ℃
LOW OF 6 ℃ |
| LIGHT RAIN |
|
|
|
SATURDAY |
HIGH OF 8 ℃
LOW OF 1 ℃ |
| SCATTERED CLOUDS |
|
|
|
SUNDAY |
HIGH OF 17 ℃
LOW OF 4 ℃ |
| BROKEN CLOUDS |
|
|
|
MONDAY |
HIGH OF 19 ℃
LOW OF 11 ℃ |
| LIGHT RAIN |
|
|
|
TUESDAY |
HIGH OF 19 ℃
LOW OF 9 ℃ |
| LIGHT RAIN |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
| Modlily Mother’s Day Sale - Stylish Savings for Mom! |
| |
| Shop trendy women’s fashion for Mother’s Day at Modlily. Enjoy special savings on dresses, tops, and more for a limited time. |
| |
| Limited-time Mother’s Day sale - don’t miss out on stylish savings! |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
 |
 |
LUKE COMBS
SOUTH ON YA
12:11 PM |
|
 |
KENNY CHESNEY
KEG IN THE CLOSET
12:08 PM |
|
 |
ELI YOUNG BAND
WHISKEY TOLD YA
12:05 PM |
|
 |
CHRIS JANSON
DIRT IN MY LIFE
12:02 PM |
|
 |
PAM TILLIS
SHAKE THE SUGAR TREE
11:59 AM |
|
 |
TERI CLARK
EMOTIONAL GIRL
11:54 AM |
|
 |
JON LANGSTON
ALL EYES ON US
11:51 AM |
|
 |
JASON ALDEAN
FLY OVER STATES
11:47 AM |
|
 |
TREY LEWIS
SCARED TO DEATH OF DALLAS
11:41 AM |
|
 |
LARRY FLEET
IF I STILL WAS
11:36 AM |
|
 
 
 |
