Nova Scotia Flu Cases Rise as Vaccination Campaign Gets Underway
Influenza activity is off to an early start in Nova Scotia this fall, outpacing reported numbers from the same period last year according to provincial data. Infectious disease specialists note that the national flu season has arrived roughly seven weeks earlier than usual across Canada.
Nova Scotia’s Respiratory Watch dashboard shows that current COVID-19 levels are lower than last year, while respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cases remain on par with previous years. However, increased influenza cases have been detected, particularly concentrated in the Halifax Regional Municipality, Eastern Shore, and West Hants regions.
Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Robert Strang received his influenza vaccination during a media availability on Monday, emphasizing that the seasonal virus continues to carry a significant health impact. The province's vaccination booking portal opened on October 8 for residents to schedule both influenza and COVID-19 immunizations. Health officials report that over 150,000 appointments have already been booked, excluding those scheduled directly through primary care providers, while more than 800,000 vaccine doses are slated for distribution to providers this season.
