B.C. officials provide update on COVID-19, influenza vaccines
B.C. health officials provided an update Friday on the number of people who have received vaccinations against influenza and COVID-19, stressing the need for people to get their shots before the peak of respiratory illness season.
In the month since the fall vaccination campaign launched, 1,072,000 people have received the flu shot and 847,458 have been immunized against the coronavirus.
"We're in good shape but there is more opportunity across the province to get vaccinated," Health Minister Adrian Dix said, urging anyone who has received an invitation to book an appointment as soon as possible.
Acknowledging that some communities have longer waits and less availability for appointments, Dix said more capacity is being added where necessary. His advice to those who have had trouble booking online is to try again, try booking over the phone, to try asking your local pharmacy about walk-ins or to travel to a location that may be a bit farther afield – if possible.
Dix said the province has enough vaccine supply to meet demand.
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said getting updated vaccines is important to protect against the strains of COVID-19 and influenza that are currently circulating.
While what she described as an "early peak" of COVID-19 is subsiding, Henry noted that cases of other viruses – specifically RSV, influenza and the viruses that cause the common cold – are starting to increase and are expected to continue to rise.
"This is a time where it's important to get to get our protection as we're going into the worst part of the season," she said.
Over the past month, Dix said, hospitals have been caring for more patients than they were at this time last year – with an average of 337 more patients per day between Oct. 8 and Nov. 7.
"Last year, we had very high levels of hospitalization. This year, they are higher," the minister said.
"We're still going to see a rising level of demand for inpatient acute care in our hospitals. They are grateful and we are grateful for the determination of British Columbia to get vaccinated during this period. We have to continue to do that."
Henry said that vaccine uptake does tend to peak early in the season, when those who are more vulnerable and those who are more eager quickly snap up available appointments. While there hasn't yet been a drop off, Henry said she hopes the province's reminder system will encourage people who didn’t book an appointment when they were first notified to book one when prompted.
"This is a time to get the protection as we're starting to see the viruses get more and more active in the community," she said.
Both Dix and Henry also reminded British Columbians, particularly as the holiday gathering season gets underway, to take precautions to prevent infecting others, like staying home when sick.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Jasper updates: Wildfire reaches townsite
One of two wildfires threatening Jasper National Park has reached the townsite.
Alberta calls in army to assist with wildfire situation
Alberta has called in the Canadian Armed Forces to help assist with the worsening wildfire situation in the province.
Biden explains why he ended re-election bid in Oval Office address
U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday delivered a solemn call to voters to defend the country's democracy as he laid out in an Oval Office address his decision to drop his bid for reelection and throw his support behind Vice President Kamala Harris.
Barrie-Innisfil MPP 'blacked-out' and crashed car into window of child care centre
Staff at a Barrie child care centre say they are frustrated by what they call a local MPP's inadequate response after a car crashed through a window in one of the toddler rooms.
Norad intercepts Russian and Chinese bombers operating together near Alaska in apparent first
The North American Aerospace Defence Command (Norad) intercepted two Russian and two Chinese bombers flying near Alaska Wednesday in what appears to be the first time the two countries have been intercepted while operating together.
2 Canadians being 'sent home immediately,' removed from Olympic team after drone incident
An analyst and an assistant coach with Canada Soccer are being removed from the Canadian Olympic Team and 'sent home immediately,' according to the Canadian Olympic Committee.
An unwelcome attendee has joined the Paris Olympic Games: COVID-19
After a handful of Australian water polo players tested positive for COVID-19 this week, questions have emerged around how the spread of the disease will be mitigated at the Summer Olympic Games in Paris.
Vacations, meals, booze: Contractor used $100K of charity's money for personal expenses, B.C. court finds
A B.C. man who was hired to help a non-profit build a food hub but instead spent the money on personal expenses – including travel, restaurants, booze and cannabis – has been ordered to pay more than $120,000 in damages.
Male, female killed, 2 others injured in 'gun battle' outside Toronto plaza: police
Two people are dead and two others suffered serious injuries following a shooting that police have described as a 'gun battle' outside a plaza in Scarborough, Ont. early Wednesday morning.