The push is on to get a flu shot, in hopes of avoiding another severe flu season.
Health officials say twice as many cases were reported in 2017 compared with the previous year.
Saint John, New Brunswick pharmacist Greg McIntyre says influenza can impact many people.
He explains they include “seniors, children between the ages of six months to 59 months, anyone with chronic medical conditions, and pregnant women.”
He says they attribute the higher number of hospital visits for the flu last year to a lack of immunization.
McIntyre says according to Health Canada, more than 2 million Canadians get the flu every year and 55,000 of them to see their doctor.
“About 12,000 of them, or a little over, do get hospitalized in an average year, and 3,500 will die,” stated McIntyre.
Health Canada’s goal is to have 80 percent of the population get the flu shot to avoid needless illnesses or even deaths.