National

B.C. prepares for flu and COVID-19 this fall

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 28 Sep, 2022 01:22 PM

VICTORIA - British Columbia health officials are preparing for a possible surge of influenza infections at the same time as COVID-19 strikes this fall.

The province is offering free flu shots beginning next month for everyone six months and older, while seniors are eligible for enhanced vaccines that provide additional protection.

Officials said during a technical briefing today that pressures on the health system including staffing shortages are being factored into planning for hospital bed capacity.

This is expected to be the first season the flu has a significant comeback since pandemic restrictions dampened the spread of it and other respiratory illnesses over the past two years.

Dr. Bonnie Henry provided an update this afternoon.

Join Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, and Dr. Bonnie Henry, provincial health officer, for an update on respiratory viruses including COVID-19. https://t.co/3fWuEuWQ7G
— BC Government News (@BCGovNews) September 28, 2022

Officials say Omicron is expected to remain the dominant COVID-19 variant for the next few months but they do not expect it to spread or surge to the same heights seen in previous fall or winter seasons.

An official says COVID-19 is expected to surge around November through January, and she expects the flu may peak early this year around the same time, based on the experiences of Australia and New Zealand.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Wolf escape at B.C. zoo suspected as 'malicious'

Earlier, British Columbia's Environment Ministry had said that only one wolf was still missing at the zoo, located about 55 kilometres east of Vancouver in the community of Aldergrove. It did not say how many had escaped at the facility, which says it has nine adult grey wolves and six cubs.

Wolf escape at B.C. zoo suspected as 'malicious'

String of overnight fires being investigated by Surrey RCMP, fires started deliberately

Based on the initial information it appears that the fires were deliberately started. Due to the short time frame and close proximity of the fires police believe that they are likely related.

String of overnight fires being investigated by Surrey RCMP, fires started deliberately

10,000 drug deaths since B.C. emergency: coroner

New data from the coroner's service says at least 1,095 residents are believed to have died from January to June this year, at an average of six deaths per day. The report found more than three-quarters of the those who died this year have been male, and most were between the ages of 30 and 59.

10,000 drug deaths since B.C. emergency: coroner

Border officers cite discrimination by colleagues

The figures are drawn from a survey conducted as part of an internal Canada Border Services Agency evaluation that looked at how the agency processed travellers, using a lens of gender, race, ethnicity, religion, age, and mental or physical disability, and the interaction between these factors.

Border officers cite discrimination by colleagues

Inflation slows to 7.6% in July as gas prices fall

The inflation rate hit a nearly 40-year-high of 8.1 per cent in June, but economists were widely expecting inflation to have since slowed. In its latest consumer price index report, Statistics Canada said the July saw the smallest monthly gains since December 2021.

Inflation slows to 7.6% in July as gas prices fall

Man shot and killed in police engagement in Kamloops, case of child abduction

After 3 a.m., the male suspect then reportedly exited the trailer with a weapon and a child. During the engagement with officers, the man was shot and killed. The child was uninjured and a woman was subsequently located with non-life injuries inside the trailer.