It has been a record year for flu vaccine uptake in the province, but the numbers are still nowhere near where health officials wanted them to be.

Last fall, the province set an 85 per cent flu vaccination rate target. The Department of Health is reporting that just over 234,300 people have received the shot, putting our vaccination rate at 45 per cent. That number is set to rise, however, with another 53,000 people booked to get their flu shots.

Government’s push for people to get inoculated was to help prevent a double pandemic of influenza and COVID-19.

COVID restrictions may be playing a role in keeping influenza at bay, with Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Janice Fitzgerald reporting just one confirmed case this season.

There were 708 cases of the flu reported in the province last year, and nine related deaths before numbers dropped off dramatically after public health restrictions were imposed due to COVID.