BC breaks single-day vaccination record for COVID-19 and flu shots

Record numbers of people in British Columbia are being vaccinated against COVID-19 and flu as the province ramps up its respiratory disease season immunization campaign.

The Ministry of Health said in a news release that pharmacies in B.C. administered nearly 82,000 vaccinations on Oct. 15 alone.

It says this was a record for a single day, with about 50,000 vaccinations for flu and about 32,000 for COVID-19.

The ministry says updated vaccines for both influenza and COVID-19 are being offered, including new mRNA vaccines for the KP.2 COVID variant.

The ministry says it started sending out invitations on October 8 to priority populations to update their vaccinations. The record was set on the first day of delivery.

The first week of the campaign also set a record, with nearly 370,000 vaccines administered.

The new figures were announced by provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry, who said in the release that respiratory illness season is a time to remember “healthy habits,” including covering coughs, washing hands, avoiding others if you have a cough or fever, and wearing a mask if you have persistent symptoms or need more protection.

Henry said at a news conference Tuesday that the province has seen “sporadic” cases of influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) so far this year, returning to what would be considered “a more normal pattern” from before the pandemic.

“I expect we’re going to see an increase in influenza and RSV, probably in late November, early December, given the patterns we’re seeing now,” she said.

“But COVID-19 remains high. It remained high all summer. It never went back to what we would call a seasonal spread. We had a slight increase in the spring and leveled off a bit in the summer, but we’re starting to see that increase again.”

She said virus levels in wastewater remain high in many locations, and hospitalization rates are “elevated,” although they have “leveled off a little bit recently.”

“So that tells us again that we still don’t know enough about the long-term patterns that these viruses will show in this province and in these countries. “Again, it remains very important for us to have that increasing protection, especially people who are at greater risk of serious disease,” she said.

COVID is no longer an emergency in B.C., Henry says

The ministry says the National Advisory Committee on Immunization recommends that people receive the updated COVID-19 vaccine this fall or six months after their most recent COVID-19 vaccine or infection, whichever is later.

Henry said the COVID-19 virus continues to cause serious illness in people who are older or have compromised immune systems or other illnesses.

She said the province is no longer in an emergency situation, largely because vaccines protect people.

“But we’re not sure what patterns we’ll see in the long term, whether it will require a booster every year, or whether it might slow the changes we’re seeing in the virus and not be needed.” to have a booster for a longer period of time, she said.

While there is still some uncertainty surrounding COVID-19, Henry said they know it will stick around for the long term.

“We have to be prepared for that. And fortunately we have good vaccines that help protect people, especially against more serious diseases.”