Flu season is on its way and there has already been an outbreak of influenza in Regina, so a flu vaccination is recommended by the Sun Country Health Region (SCHR).

Flu vaccinations have been given out in Weyburn since the beginning of October and will be on sale to the public for low risk people as of Nov. 1.

Saskatchewan health provides free flu vaccines for people at high risk for the complications of influenza including adults over 65 years old, children 6-23 months old and the medically at risk who are under 65 years old.

SCHR's public health division says about 93 per cent of residents in long term care centres, in the health region, were vaccinated with the flu vaccine in 2004, while 70 per cent of all people over 65 years old received the shot.

Flu shots have been more popular this year, however. Public Health nurse Sharon Schindel said that so far more people at high risk of experiencing severe consequences from the flu have been immunized this year in Weyburn compared to last year.

At the Oct. 3 clinic in Weyburn, 395 people were immunized. At the Oct. 5 clinic, 152 people were immunized and at the Oct. 12 clinic, 285 people were immunized. Comparing to the numbers last year, at this period of time vaccines were being sold to people who were not considered high risk.

A key component of this year's campaign for SCHR is to encourage health care workers to protect themselves by being vaccinated.

Health care workers face increased risk of contracting influenza and can spread influenza to their patients who are at high risk of influenza-related complications.

Immunization is also encouraged for all healthy children and adults. The general public will be able to purchase the vaccination from the SCHR public health department or a physician in November.