Misconceptions about the flu vaccine are the reason why almost four in 10 Albertans said they won’t get vaccinated for influenza this year, according to a new poll.

Those Albertans who do not plan on getting the vaccine said they believe they don’t need it, that it’s ineffective, or that it can have negative side effects, the poll found. It was conducted by Insights West for London Drugs.

“The reality is that the flu shot is safe and it is the most effective tool we have in protecting against the flu, preventing its spread and ultimately it saves lives,” said London Drugs pharmacist Gianni Del Negro in a news release.

Another 21 per cent of respondents said they just tend to forget or don’t get around to it.

Despite these attitudes about the flu shot, 78 per cent of Albertans surveyed say they recognize the importance of getting vaccinated every year to help protect those who are more vulnerable to serious flu illness — like babies, young children, the elderly and people with certain health conditions.

In the flu season ending in 2018, 92 people died and had lab-confirmed influenza, while 3,053 Albertans were admitted to hospital with lab-confirmed influenza, according to the provincial government.

“Even healthy individuals should get a flu shot because the higher the rate of vaccination, the greater the protection for the most vulnerable individuals,” said Del Negro.

The flu shot is the best way to prevent getting the flu and most people do not have any side effects, said Health Canada.

Beginning in October of each year, Albertans six months and older will be able to receive the influenza vaccine, free of charge, at public health clinics and doctor’s offices. Pharmacies can also administer the vaccine to Albertans five years old and older.

Vaccination rates have climbed to 29 per cent of the provincial population last year from 22 per cent in 2011. The provincial government was prepared for more and purchased 1.6 million doses of influenza vaccine — enough to immunize 35 per cent of the population.

Insights West conducted the online survey for London Drugs Aug. 22-28, sampling 616 Albertan adults. Its margin of error is plus or minus 3.95 percentage points.

lijohnson@postmedia.com

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