The B.C. Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) says the number of positive tests for influenza is increasing in all age groups, especially among children.
Dr. Jennifer Vines, BCCDC’s public health response medical director says respiratory-illness-related hospitalizations across Canada are showing a steep climb in children up to four years old, as well as people age 65 and up.
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“When we look at emergency department visits we see almost a third so about 29 percent as a proportion of those visits among children are for respiratory symptoms. That’s tracking very similar to last year, and among adults it about nine percent,” said Vines.
Many provinces are reporting only around 20 per cent of eligible residents have received the flu vaccine so far this season.
This year’s available vaccine isn’t a good match for H3N2 — the current predominant influenza strain.
“The H3N2 virus itself has actually changed to look quite different from the version that’s in the current vaccine,” said Vines.
RELATED: 3 children died from flu complications this month in Ottawa area: health units
JC Pharmacy owner and pharmacist Chandra Erant says people should still get the vaccine even if it’s not the perfect match.
“It might not protect from that particular strain of the flu but definitely it will give you a lot of protection with the other three strains which are in that. I would highly recommend taking it,” said Erant.
Officials like Vines are trying to get the message ahead of holiday gatherings that it’s not to late to get a vaccine shot to better protect yourself as hospitalizations continue to grow.
Tchadas Leo has been with CHEK since the creation of the CHEK podcast “Our Native Land” in November of 2020. Tchadas completed the BCIT Broadcast and Journalism program and has been contributing to…
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