Vaccines are top of mind for many with talk of sickness during flu season, and many also were talking about a nasal spray variant that makes the experience quick and easy.

However, in reality, nasal spray vaccines aren't being offered, says Regional Manager Public Health-Healthy Living Bev Unger. Flu season can be a tough time for many, and some get vaccinated earlier in the season, others wait to see how prevalent the flu is, but all are looking for a convenient way to fight off the seasonal "bugs."

"In previous years, there has been a nasal flu vaccine that was available for the paediatric population. It would be administered by one sprit up each nostril. In this last flu season, in 2019/2020, that vaccine was not available in Canada, and the only flu vaccine that was available in Canada was the type that would be injected."

According to the province, during the 2019/2020 flu season, the number of residents who were immunized with the seasonal influenza vaccine was up to 24.8 percent. Unger says in previous years, the figure sits closer to 22 percent, but in the Southern Health region, the rates never reach as high as the provincial average.

In our RHA, Unger says, based on preliminary reports, the number of individuals immunized is around 18 percent, 2 percent higher than the norm, but she adds Southern Health continues to encourage immunizations and improve awareness around seasonal influenza.

Part of that awareness is informing when the best time to be immunized is.

"The best time is earlier in fall, so we generally have the flu vaccine available to us mid to late October. October/November is the ideal time to get the flu shot, the reasons why are we want to immunize people before the viruses are circulating. Their body needs some time to respond to the vaccine to build antibodies so that when they are exposed to influenza, their body has the capacity to fight the disease."

With the increase immunizations saw this year, Unger says vaccine quantity had been a bit tight. She notes the RHA anticipates what the demand will be based on early vaccination rates. If people begin to want vaccinations during the middle or end of the flu season, it can make meeting the unanticipated demand difficult.

If any are still looking to receive a flu shot, they can visit their local pharmacist or clinic to see if it's available. Unger encourages anyone, as young as the age of seven, to get flu shots early so they can nip the flu in the bud.