Though flu vaccinations have been on the rise in Canada since 2005, many high-risk groups, such as people with chronic conditions and seniors, are not being vaccinated, suggests a report from Statistics Canada and the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Services released Tuesday.

The vaccination rates for these groups fall short of national targets, it says.

The report finds the vaccination rate among Canadians under 65 with chronic conditions is only 42 per cent, a far cry from the 80 per cent national target.
(CBC)

"Convincing people they need to be vaccinated and getting them vaccinated are the two biggest challenges we face in this country," said Dr. Jeff Kwong, lead author and a scientist with the institute.

"Not enough individuals who are considered to be high risk for serious complications, like seniors, those with chronic conditions [and] young children, are getting the shot."

The report finds the vaccination rate among Canadians under 65 with chronic conditions is only 42 per cent — a far cry from the 80 per cent national target. Chronic conditions include heart disease, diabetes, cancer, effects of stroke, asthma or emphysema/chronic bronchitis.

"These are just a few of the diseases for which you need the flu shot every year," Kwong told CBC News on Tuesday.

Overall, vaccination rates have increased, say the authors, doubling between 1996-1997 and 2000-2001, and increasing further between 2003 and 2005.

Vaccination rates vary by province

But there exists a vaccination patchwork across the country, with significant variations between the provincial vaccination rates.

Ontario has the highest number of vaccinations, with its rate rising to 42 per cent in 2005 from 18 per cent in 1997, a surge the report's authors attribute to the province's universal vaccination program, which it introduced in 2000. The program offers free flu shots to the entire population aged six months or older.

According to the report, Nunavut boasts the highest vaccination rates among the elderly.

At the other end of the spectrum, Newfoundland and Labrador had the lowest vaccination rates, at 22 per cent in 2005.

Reasons for skipping the flu shot vary, according to the report. Some Canadians feel that because they received a flu shot the previous year (an annual flu shot is required for maximum protection), they don't need one the following year. Others say they have experienced a "bad reaction" to the shot itself.

"Among the seniors, we know that there are many of those that don't get the flu shot because they feel it's unnecessary," said Kwong. "So it's a real challenge to inform people that influenza is a really serious illness, convince them to get the flu shot every year."

Timing is also a factor. "The vaccine isn't ready until October, and it's always a race to get people vaccinated before flu season starts and sometimes the season creeps up on us as early as November," said Kwong.

To boost Canada's vaccination rates, the report calls for the development of vaccination strategies, such as immunization registries that would monitor how many Canadians receive vaccinations.