Both the Saskatoon Health Region and the Kelsey Trail Health Region launched their influenza vaccination campaigns today.

Vaccines are free of charge for anybody.

SHR Deputy Medical Health Officer Dr. Simon Kapaj warns not to take the flu lightly.

"The influenza virus poses a serious health risk to many individuals, we advise strongly that especially the vulnerable population receive the flu shot annually."

They point to people with long term health issues, health care workers, pregnant women, children or the elderly should get immunized. Last year about one in three people were immunized in the SHR.

Dr. Kapaj says they would like that to be higher.

"We aim to do better, especially this is important for people that have chronic illness, people that have heart problems, lung problems or diabetes. As well as seniors, pregnant women and kids, these are the groups that will benefit mostly from the vaccine."

Kapaj explains more about how the vaccine operates.

"The vaccine contains three or four strains of the flu virus and what it does actually is it triggers the immune system to respond to the virus that's on circulation so this way we will have some protection against the flu viruses."

The flu season is expected to run from now until about April of next year. Last year a reported 3,500 people died from influenza.

You can view a list of clinics in the SHR here or for a list of KTHR clinics click here.

You can also hear more from Kapaj below in his interview with Bolt FM's Clark Stork below.