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.
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
2 am |
| -20 ℃ |
| BROKEN CLOUDS |
WIND: SSE 31 KM/H
GUSTING TO 69 KM/H |
|
|
|
3 am |
| -19 ℃ |
| BROKEN CLOUDS |
WIND: SSE 33 KM/H
GUSTING TO 72 KM/H |
|
|
|
4 am |
| -19 ℃ |
| BROKEN CLOUDS |
WIND: SSE 30 KM/H
GUSTING TO 67 KM/H |
|
|
|
5 am |
| -18 ℃ |
| OVERCAST CLOUDS |
WIND: SSE 32 KM/H
GUSTING TO 66 KM/H |
|
|
|
6 am |
| -16 ℃ |
| OVERCAST CLOUDS |
WIND: SSE 32 KM/H
GUSTING TO 62 KM/H |
|
|
|
7 am |
| -14 ℃ |
| OVERCAST CLOUDS |
WIND: SSE 30 KM/H
GUSTING TO 57 KM/H |
|
|
|
8 am |
| -13 ℃ |
| OVERCAST CLOUDS |
WIND: SSE 28 KM/H
GUSTING TO 52 KM/H |
|
|
 |
9 am |
| -13 ℃ |
| OVERCAST CLOUDS |
WIND: SSE 23 KM/H
GUSTING TO 44 KM/H |
|
|
|
|
TODAY |
HIGH OF -7 ℃
LOW OF -20 ℃ |
| OVERCAST CLOUDS |
|
|
|
MONDAY |
HIGH OF 3 ℃
LOW OF -16 ℃ |
| BROKEN CLOUDS |
|
|
 |
TUESDAY |
HIGH OF 7 ℃
LOW OF -13 ℃ |
| SNOW |
|
|
|
WEDNESDAY |
HIGH OF 2 ℃
LOW OF -12 ℃ |
| SNOW |
|
|
|
THURSDAY |
HIGH OF -15 ℃
LOW OF -26 ℃ |
| SNOW |
|
|
|
FRIDAY |
HIGH OF -5 ℃
LOW OF -22 ℃ |
| SNOW |
|
|
|
SATURDAY |
HIGH OF -21 ℃
LOW OF -28 ℃ |
| BROKEN CLOUDS |
|
|
 |
SUNDAY |
HIGH OF -12 ℃
LOW OF -24 ℃ |
| FEW CLOUDS |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
| Muck Boots Holiday Sale – Cozy & Ready for Winter! |
| |
| Step into the season with Muck Boots! Save on durable, comfortable boots perfect for winter weather, outdoor adventures, or holiday gifting. |
| |
| Holiday deals won’t last—shop Muck Boots today! |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
 |
 |
SAM HUNT
KINFOLKS
02:05 AM |
|
 |
BLAKE SHELTON
ALL OF MY LOVE
02:01 AM |
|
 |
JERROD NIEMANN
I GOT THIS
01:58 AM |
|
 |
RILEY GREEN
TURNIN DIRT
01:55 AM |
|
 |
DAN AND SHAY
THEN AGAIN
01:52 AM |
|
 |
JON LANGSTON
DIRT ROADS AND DIAMONDS
01:49 AM |
|
 |
KELSEA BALLERINI
PUT IT TO BED
01:43 AM |
|
 |
CHRIS YOUNG
TIL THE LAST ONE DIES
01:40 AM |
|
 |
CARLY PEARCE
NO RAIN
01:37 AM |
|
 |
JOSH TURNER
DOWN IN GEORGIA
01:33 AM |
|
 
 |
