The clinics start on Friday and will run through the weekend. The province will also provide weekly updates on flu-related deaths, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said Thursday. The six who died this autumn included a child under the age of five, three between the ages of five and nine and two teenagers between the ages of 15 and 19. Henry said the flu season was unusual, with an early and severe spike in cases. e.g. health officials have parents urged to get children vaccinated against the flu, citing a “dramatic increase” in cases of influenza A, a strain that can cause serious illness in children. Henry said vaccines distributed to children can target influenza A and encouraged people to take advantage of the weekend clinics. This year, the province made flu shots free for everyone six months of age and older. Appointments are not required, but if you prefer, they can be booked online. Clinic locations and opening hours can be found on local health authority websites:
Visits to “off-the-table” ERs: doctor
On Friday, the BC Center for Disease Control issued a statement saying the deadly spike in acute respiratory illness is showing signs of stabilizing. He says that although test positivity remains high for both influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), the numbers have leveled off in the past week. However, health officials are still urging caution. Dr. Michael Curry, an emergency physician and clinical associate professor in UBC’s department of emergency medicine, said the number of people visiting emergency rooms with respiratory illnesses was “off the charts” compared to previous years — rising to higher levels from ever, even before the pandemic. “[Respiratory illnesses are] It’s really just coming into the emergency room in unprecedented numbers,” he told CBC Early Edition host Stephen Quinn. LISTEN | Dr. Michael Curry on the rise in cases of respiratory disease: The Early Edition8:07 The emergency doctor on efforts to slow flu cases The province has promised new weekly updates on flu-related deaths. This comes after six child deaths have been confirmed so far this autumn. We have more on the government’s response to the pandemic. Children’s hospitals across the country have seen an increase in respiratory viruses, including RSV and influenza for a variety of reasons, including a return to activity levels near pre-pandemic levels and children and adults interacting with each other after two years due to reduced activity, social distancing rules and coverage that saw a reduction in diseases spreading through the population. “Our bodies haven’t dealt with flu viruses in the last two years,” Curry said. In an interview with CBC Daybreak South host Chris Walker, Henry said officials are still trying to “piece together” the reason behind the increase in the disease seen in B.C. and other jurisdictions as far away as Australia and New Zealand. “Is it because we have such a large group of kids who haven’t been exposed to the flu for two years?” asked. “Either it’s a more serious strain, or [is] is it a combination?” Henry also said the province is not yet at the point where it is considering reinstating public health rules, such as mandatory masks or limited gatherings, as has happened the past two holiday seasons. But he said it’s still important to wash hands, stay home while sick and wear a mask for an extra layer of protection. Curry said while it makes sense to continue going to school, traveling and getting together for the holidays after so many years apart, he encouraged people to take lessons from COVID-19 about best practices to prevent the spread of the disease. “Our experience during the pandemic really showed that the coverage, the distancing certainly had a dramatic impact, almost virtually eliminating influenza in British Columbia so far this year.” LISTEN | Panel discussion on whether to bring back mask commands: The Early Edition8:07 The emergency doctor on efforts to slow flu cases The province has promised new weekly updates on flu-related deaths. This comes after six child deaths have been confirmed so far this autumn. We have more on the government’s response to the pandemic.
