The editor:
I am a 77-year-old senior dealing with health problems which include heart, kidney and lung, as well as a seriously compromised immune system, as a result of a case of bacterial septicemia in 2015. My point, as follows, is that not all health-compromised seniors are in nursing homes.
I have called pharmacies in Ontario and have been told that seniors over the age of 60 are given what they refer to as a “senior’s dose” of the flu vaccine and it is my understanding the dosage is approximately 1 1/2 times that of the regular flu vaccine. Furthermore, it is administered at no cost to the client and anyone living in the home with that senior is also protected by getting the “senior’s dose.” Also, it is a non-adjuvanted vaccine.
I tried to get a senior’s flu shot last year and our local public health personnel, the nurse at our doctor’s office and most seniors I spoke with had not even heard of it. When inquiring at a drugstore I was informed that it might be available if there was enough interest in it and the client would have to pay for it. Very sadly, most seniors in this province don’t even know about it.
It is my intention, and in short order, to let as many seniors as possible in Saskatchewan aware of the existence of this flu shot and how it is widely unavailable to seniors through Saskatchewan Health. I intend to fight the policy of the Ministry of Health. It is completely unacceptable, especially in this time of COVID-19 when seniors are at a far greater risk of serious illness and an increased chance of dying.
Please take this into serious and immediate consideration. You might save lives.
