Vulnerable seniors need booster shots, care providers say
How it got in, they do not know.
But COVID-19 is back inside Menno Home in Abbotsford.
This time, it has infected an entire wing of a dementia care unit. All 21 residents along with 14 staff have tested positive.
“This virus is so insidious and so invisible,” said Menno Place CEO Karen Biggs.
“The residents are 100 per cent double vaccinated. The staff who are sick are double vaccinated,” Biggs explained.
She says the outbreak now is much different than the one in November.
Biggs says the symptoms of infection are much milder this time and there have been far fewer deaths.
But still, two seniors have died.
And now she’s urging the province to offer vulnerable residents and staff a booster vaccine.
“Our residents, their second vaccine was in January so the vaccine has been a long time ago for these residents and my staff,” Biggs said.
Her sentiments are echoed by the B.C. Care Providers Association, which has also been calling for boosters.
“We saw care home outbreaks literally go down to zero and now we’ve got them all over the province,” said Terry Lake of the BCCPA.
“A third booster is needed and I would say in long-term care it is needed today,” he added.
“I don’t think we can wait any longer. We’re losing residents. Families are devastated and staff are burned out,” Lake said.
Twenty-three care facilities in the province are currently experiencing COVID-19 outbreaks.
“Some of the preliminary studies of the vaccine suggested immunity would begin to wane six to nine months after administration of a second shot of a two-shot vaccine,” Dr. Brian Conway told CTV News. Conway serves as the medical director of the Vancouver Infectious Diseases Centre.
The doctor also points out that the vaccine does not work in ten to twenty per cent of cases.
Conway says a third dose plan is something under consideration in B.C. for those deemed high-risk.
“We’re trying to determine if this is really necessary. Some jurisdictions, such as Israel, a decision has been made just to administer the boosters,” he said.
Meanwhile, Biggs worries about vulnerable seniors having to battle COVID-19.
“This virus is morphing and we just don’t know what it’s going to bring at us next,” Biggs said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
WHO likely to issue wider alert on contaminated cough syrup
The World Health Organization is likely to issue a wider warning about contaminated Johnson and Johnson-made children's cough syrup found in Nigeria last week, it said in an email.
Canada, G7 urge 'all parties' to de-escalate in growing Mideast conflict
Canada called for 'all parties' to de-escalate rising tensions in the Mideast following an apparent Israeli drone attack against Iran overnight.
'It was all my savings': Ontario woman loses $15K to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
Families to receive Canada Child Benefit payment on Friday
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.
After COVID, WHO defines disease spread 'through air'
The World Health Organization and around 500 experts have agreed for the first time on what it means for a disease to spread through the air, in a bid to avoid the confusion early in the COVID-19 pandemic that some scientists have said cost lives.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.