Dr Strang urges holiday season caution as flu season hits early

Nova Scotia’s Chief Medical Officer of Health is urging Nova Scotians to take precautions as the holiday season is in full swing and virus levels rise across the province.

As people gather to celebrate the holidays, it creates an opportunity for viruses to spread, says Dr Robert Strang.

“Getting together with loved ones, friends and colleagues is part of this time of year. And people are excited about it, especially after two holiday seasons that were definitely not what we would call normal by any means. However, even this year is different.”

Strang said flu season typically lasts eight to 10 weeks and hit about four weeks earlier than usual this year. It usually doesn’t peak until the end of the holiday season, or in January and February, but this year we’re already there.

“So that means if we’re not careful, there’s a lot of potential for transmitting viruses as we socialize, which isn’t so much the norm in typical years. So I’m asking Nova Scotians to do pay close attention to your social activities.”

He said Nova Scotians should wear a mask in crowded indoor spaces, if they are sick and cannot stay home and while recovering. Masks should also be worn if people are in close contact with those most vulnerable to the effects of infection. Strang advised anyone who is sick to avoid social gatherings.

Childhood vaccines can soon be given at the same time

The Chief Medical Officer also urged everyone to get their flu and COVID-19 shots. He said that while people getting the flu shot won’t see the benefits of full protection for two weeks, they will get some protection very soon after getting the shot.

Strang also announced that starting next week, children aged six months to four years will be able to get the COVID-19 vaccine alongside other vaccines if they choose. Previously, children were advised to space out COVID-19 and flu shots two weeks apart.

With less than 20% of children and young people under 20 vaccinated against the flu, vaccination levels are “still a long way from where we need to be,” Strang said.

Flu vaccination rates among older adults are higher, with about 65-70% of people age 65 and older having received a vaccine.

Strang said uptake of flu shots among children has never been high.

With two years of the pandemic and the surge in COVID-19 injections, “for some reason…too many people have kind of said, we want to go beyond that,” Strang said.

Misinformation online also likely deterred some from getting vaccinated, he said.

Early peak of influenza A

The province experienced an early peak of influenza A this year. So far, there have been 2,355 laboratory-confirmed cases of influenza.

There was 686 new cases of influenza A last weekwith 100 hospitalizations and eight intensive care unit admissions.

Strang said that in Canada, the flu tends to move from west to east, and his counterparts in western Canada are starting to see signs that virus levels are stabilizing there. In Nova Scotia, flu and RSV levels this week are about the same as last week, which could indicate virus levels are stabilizing here too, Strang said.

He said flu cases were also shifting a bit from children to adults, although that shift has yet to impact hospitalizations and serious illnesses in adults.

Other viruses also continue to circulate, including enteroviruses/rhinoviruses and COVID-19.

Strang said levels of COVID-19 tend to be “pretty low and stable,” but we’ll have to “watch and wait” to see what happens, especially if a new variant emerges that may evade vaccine protection.