BC doctors, politicians are urging residents to get vaccinated amid flu season
As the days get cooler and autumn leaves fall, the change in weather can also bring on runny noses and flu symptoms.
BC officials are now encouraging residents to get flu vaccinations as respiratory flu season begins.
Provincial Health Minister Josie Osborne said getting vaccinated is one of the simplest and most effective ways to take care of the community.
“When you get vaccinated, you are protecting your grandparents, your children, your neighbors, your coworkers and other people,” she said.
As flu season approaches, the province is unveiling its rollout for COVID-19 and flu vaccines. Health officials are encouraging people across B.C. to roll up their sleeves and get vaccinated. As Michel Ghoussoub reports, they’re also warning of a rise in misinformation about the safety of the vaccines.
Osborne said more than two million people have received notifications to book their vaccine appointments, and since the campaign began, more than 273,000 people have been vaccinated for influenza and nearly 215,000 have been vaccinated for COVID-19.
“Those numbers will continue to grow,” Osborn said.
But he also said he is concerned about the increasing amount of misinformation and disinformation about vaccines.
“These false claims can undermine trust in proven public health measures and make it harder for people to make informed choices,” Osborne said at a news conference Thursday.
He said most of the misinformation is coming from outside Canada, particularly the U.S.
“Here in British Columbia, we base our health policies and decisions on strong scientific evidence and expert medical advice.”
Deputy provincial health officer Dr. Martin Lavoie said several demographic groups are at higher risk of severe disease and complications: very young people, very old people and people with chronic medical conditions.
“Vaccines are one of many ways to protect ourselves, and are very important because they are safe as well as very effective.”
He said the annual flu shot campaign advocates vaccination against influenza and COVID-19, but also against RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) and pneumococcal infections.
Dr. Brian Conway, medical director of the Vancouver Infectious Disease Centre, said the message is simple: “Vaccinations are good. Please get your vaccine as soon as it becomes available.”
Although some people are not as worried about COVID now as they were five years ago, Conway said there are still reasons to be cautious.
“We’re 108 years removed from a flu pandemic, and we’re still worried about the flu.”
Conway said public health experts were able to learn from previous Australian flu seasons, which could inform how the vaccines work.
He said this year’s vaccine is poised to match well the types of viruses currently circulating.
Conway encouraged people who don’t feel comfortable with vaccination to discuss the matter with a doctor.
“Become a student of history,” he said. “Look at the great story that vaccines present: In a few generations, diseases have been eliminated. The health of individuals and populations has been improved by vaccines… I think we need to get back to that.”
