Oregon Public Broadcasting

Preliminary findings of a Canadian study suggest that people who get the regular flu vaccine are twice as likely to contract the H1N1 Swine Flu.

The study still needs to be peer reviewed, but it’s prompting health experts in Canada to suspend flu shots for people who aren’t senior citizens.

Here in Oregon, Christine Decker-Stone of the Public Health Division, says they’re not making any changes.

Christine Decker-Stone: “We are in touch with the Centers for Disease Control and will be taking our lead from their advice. We are looking into it. But we are continuing to advice people to get their seasonal flu shot.”

Quebec, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario and Nova Scotia have suspended seasonal flu shots for people younger than 65. New Brunswick will continue vaccinating younger people.

The flu season in the U.S. is now well underway. 26 states, including Oregon, are reporting widespread infections.