B.C. health officials plan for ‘vaccine blitz’ to protect kids during flu season
B.C. health officials are making plans for a vaccine blitz at the end of this week to protect children during influenza season.
“Or as I called it, a vaccifluoza,” Dr. Penny Balem, Immunize BC’s executive director said during a news conference Monday morning.
She was joined by provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix, as health officials provided an update on B.C.’s early and intense flu season.
During the last update, British Columbians learned the influenza season had arrived early in the province, putting young children and seniors most at risk.
“I cannot stress enough the importance of influenza immunization right now,” Henry said Monday, repeating the same message by health officials weeks ago.
The most recent national FluWatch report, which covers the week of Nov. 20 to Nov. 26, noted an overall increase in cases of nearly 40 per cent from the week prior. Further, it noted that the rate of infection is higher than average, when compared to pre-pandemic levels.
While over 50 per cent of people aged 65 years and older have received their influenza vaccinations, only 20 per cent of children aged 11 years and younger are immunized.
Adding to the concerns of health officials is the fact that only about 50,000 children are registered under B.C.’s Get Vaccinated system, which sends parents notifications on where and when to get immunized.
The latest census data from Statistics Canada shows there are more than 214,000 children aged four years and younger in B.C.
In hopes of reaching parents whose children are at high risk for influenza, health officials are going through the provincial registry to get contact information.
“Parents in the age group of children of six months to four years are very savvy, so we’re hoping the majority of these notifications will reach them so we can encourage them to get their children vaccinated,” said Balem.
Other efforts to get children vaccinated will include extra walk-in availability at clinics across the province from Friday to Sunday. That way, people will have protection from the flu in time for holiday gatherings.
“The typical influenza season lasts around eight weeks, so we can still blunt the peak,” said Henry, who believes B.C. is two or three weeks deep. “It’s not too late to make a difference now, so you can have safe and joyful activities with friends and family for the holidays, something we’ve missed the past two years.”
Over the weekend, BC Children's Hospital briefly activated a "code orange" for a total of 28 minutes. That level is typically reserved for natural disasters and mass casualty events.
Last month, BC Children's Hospital opened an overflow unit for its emergency room to help manage the large number of patients.
A memo announcing the overflow ER described the department as “mostly seeing viral illnesses, including Enterovirus/Rhinovirus, and now increasing presentations of influenza and RSV, as well as steady COVID-19.”
On Monday, Henry explained that children are at high risk for getting secondary bacterial infections from the flu, which can also lead to severe pneumonia.
The surge has also led to the cancellation of pediatric surgeries as the facility's limited ICU beds are occupied by children with serious respiratory illness.
Emergency room wait times at BC Children's Hospital have been as long as 12 hours in recent weeks.
The surge in sick kids has B.C.'s Surrey Memorial Hospital seeing quadruple as many patients as their emergency department was designed for, and 100 more kids per day than last year – making it one of the busiest pediatric units in the country.
This is a developing story for CTV News. Check back for updates.
With files from CTV Vancouver’s Lisa Steacy.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Police arrest 3 Indian nationals in killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Three people have been arrested and charged in the killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar – as authorities continue investigating potential connections to the Indian government.
Suter scores late goal, clinches series for Canucks
Pius Suter scored with 1:39 left and the Vancouver Canucks advanced to the second round of the NHL playoffs with a 1-0 victory over the Nashville Predators on Friday night in Game 6.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.
Quebec man who threatened Trudeau, Legault online sentenced to 20 months in jail
A Quebec man who pleaded guilty to threatening Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier François Legault has been sentenced to 20 months in jail.
Human remains found in rural Sask. possibly a decade old, RCMP say
RCMP say human remains found in a rural area in central Saskatchewan may have been there for a decade or more.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
Canadian doctor concerned new weight-loss drug Wegovy may be used inappropriately
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
Drew Carey is never quitting 'The Price Is Right'
Drew Carey took over as host of 'The Price Is Right' and hopes he’s there for life. 'I'm not going anywhere,' he told 'Entertainment Tonight' of the job he took over from longtime host Bob Barker in 2007.