PEIWith flu season beginning in Prince Edward Island, there are some concerns being raised around whether the influenza vaccine protects against a developing strain of H3N2. ‘Some protection is a lot better than no protection,’ chief public health officer saysJenna Banfield · CBC News · Posted: Nov 22, 2025 5:00 AM EST | Last Updated: 5 hours agoListen to this articleEstimated 3 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by text-to-speech, a technology based on artificial intelligence.Dr. Heather Morrison says H3N2 is not a new flu variant, but it is starting to spread with a mutation that current vaccines could be less effective at fighting. (Emily Fitzpatrick/CBC)With flu season beginning in Prince Edward Island, there are some concerns being raised around whether the influenza vaccine protects against a developing strain of H3N2.Dr. Heather Morrison, P.E.I.’s chief public health officer, told CBC’s Island Morning that H3N2 is not a new flu variant, but it is starting to spread with a mutation that current vaccines could be less effective at fighting.The flu shot protects against three strains that typically circulate in Canada — two influenza A strains, H3N2 and H1N1, and the influenza B strain. “Those strains circulate in various proportions every year, and that’s also what makes influenza tricky because every year is a little different.” Morrison said.”We say often, we know influenza is coming every year, we just don’t know exactly what it will look like.”LISTEN | P.E.I. doctor shares how effective flu vaccines are against new strain:Island Morning7:59P.E.I. doctor shares how effective flu vaccines are against new strainIt’s the start of flu season and this time, there’s a new strain the flu shot doesn’t target. Dr. Heather Morrison, the province’s chief public health officer, tells us if it’s still worth getting.There’s speculation that the mutating type of H3N2 is behind an early surge in flu cases in several parts of the world. The strain is typically known for more severe infections, especially among older people. But what’s particularly troubling some experts this year is that those latest mutations are widening the gap between this virus and the available flu shot. Though there’s still only early data on what forms of influenza are circulating in Canada right now — the latest federal figures show a 50/50 split between H1N1 and H3N2 among the influenza A subtypes detected across the country in the last week — but many experts expect H3N2 will continue to rise.Flu shots still offer protectionAlthough health officials aren’t yet sure how effective the vaccine will be against the mutation, Morrison said it’s still important for Islanders to get the flu shot because it will still protect them against the other strains.Dr. Heather Morrison says although public health officials aren’t sure how effective the current flu shot is against an evolving strain of H3N2, Islanders should still get vaccinated to protect themselves against other strains of the virus. (CBC)”Certainly some protection is a lot better than no protection,” she said. “The majority of people in P.E.I. who have ended up in hospital in the last couple of years because of influenza were not vaccinated.”Islanders can get the COVID-19 vaccine along with the flu shot through their primary care providers or at their local pharmacy and Public Health Nursing vaccination clinics. The province also expanded its RSV vaccine program this year. Free protection against the virus for infants and for seniors aged 75 and older is available through Public Health Nursing.ABOUT THE AUTHORJenna Banfield is an associate producer for CBC Prince Edward Island. She can be reached at jenna.banfield@cbc.caWith files from Island Morning
Health officials urge Islanders to get flu shots, despite uncertainty around developing strain
