About 1,200 flu shots have been provided already this year by staff at Shoppers Drug Mart in Steinbach.

Pharmacist Owner Hans Epp says this is the fifth year that they have been offering flu shots to the public. Epp says all pharmacies in the province have the capability to prepare and get themselves set up, but unfortunately, not all pharmacies are offering shots. He notes pharmacists need to be injection certified. According to Epp, all of the pharmacists at his store have this certification to provide vaccinations like the influenza vaccine.

"We see it extremely important to improve peoples' health by being able to provide this service for them," says Epp.

The 1,200 flu shots this year is similar to the same period a year ago. Epp notes last year saw an increase of 25 to 30 per cent over the previous year.

"We hope that we can see this increasing because Canada's uptake on flu shots should be about eighty per cent, that's what the goal is, but unfortunately we are not close to that," he says.

And according to Epp, the southeast region usually has among the lowest percentages in the province when it comes to residents getting the flu shot.

Epp says flu shot numbers peaked about one week ago. He suggests the reason for that is because there hasn't been a lot of active flu yet in southern Manitoba.

"But when you look at the rest of the country on Flu Watch Map, the southern Manitoba area is still quite empty," says Epp. "But it's closing in from all sides."

He thinks once the flu starts to take hold, the number of flu shots provided will probably increase.

When it comes to flu shots being offered at Shoppers in Steinbach, Epp says probably 75 per cent of those coming in, are seniors. That might not come as much of a surprise considering approximately 70 per cent of seniors across Canada get the shot. By comparison, only about 36 per cent of all adults get the flu shot in Canada.

Epp notes he is encouraged by the number of first time recipients getting the shot this year.

According to Epp, flu season in Manitoba usually runs until April or May. He expects his store will have flu shots available right up until they expire, which is in June.

Meanwhile, he warns travellers that just because flu season has yet to arrive in the southeast, that doesn't mean it is that way everywhere. Epp says some tropical areas can have flu season year round.

Epp says it is too early to tell whether this year's flu vaccine will be a good match with the strain of virus circulating. He notes last year's vaccine proved to be about 65 per cent effective against the circulating strains.