Edmontonians roll up sleeves for flu season
Posted October 19, 2026 7:36 pm.
Some Edmontonians are getting ready for the coming flu season through this year’s flu vaccine rollout.
Darnell Daye was one of them on Monday. He wanted to take advantage of the referendum rush to get ahead of the line.
“Because everyone’s out voting,” he told CityNews.
Daye says it’s especially important to get vaccinated for folks like him who receive home care from medical staff.
“Because if you don’t get your flu shot, well, or your vaccine, you can get sick and end up in hospital.”
There have been more than 134 influenza cases and 101 COVID cases confirmed so far in Edmonton since late August, according to latest provincial data.
Edmonton pharmacist Samuel Thorsley expects that number to go up.
“It’s going to be starting with a bang, being super busy, and that’s what we’ve seen in hospitals,” said Thorsley, the pharmacy manager at Shopper’s City Centre.
CityNews reported on the early vaccine rollout Wednesday, with data showing three deaths from both influenza and COVID in the Calgary and North zones since Aug. 30.
Thorsley says along with washing your hands, getting vaccinated is an effective way to protect yourself from the seasonal bug.
“I encourage everyone to get vaccinated early in the season to get the most protection for the whole season, as opposed to waiting until later in the season when maybe you have some of those family gatherings and you’re trying to get it done the night before,” he said.
Flu shots are publicly funded for all, while the COVID vaccine is only free to eligible patients.
The vaccines take about two weeks to fully course through a person’s system.
