Only a few weeks into this flu season, 11 deaths have already been reported among children and teens across Canada

Some experts say providing timely information about the severity of a communicable disease like the flu can help people protect themselves and in this case, their kids.

“…that kind of information can help inform the public and can be useful to encourage people to seek and listen to public health advice,” [Dr. Rod Lim, head of pediatric emergency at the London, Ont., Health Sciences Centre] said.

B.C.'s revelation of its pediatric flu deaths provides a concrete example of how this can work: it triggered a surge in parents bringing their kids to get vaccinated against the flu.

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