Get your shots as flu and RSV on rise in B.C., says PHO

B.C. is urging people across the province to get their COVID-19 and flu vaccines, as respiratory illnesses circulate and as people prepare to gather over the holiday period.

In an update Monday morning, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry shared that it is particularly important to get vaccinated before people come together indoors, which typically increases the chance of transmission.

“The good news is that COVID-19 activity continues to decrease and stay relatively low since the peak that we had in early October this year,” she explained.

However, Henry says we need to pay attention to the flu and RSV as rates of infection are rising.

“Influenza A on the other hand and … RSV activity are starting to increase now,” she said. “We’re seeing that more people are seeking health-care providers for respiratory symptoms. So, that’s going up both in adults and in children.”

Henry explains the province is “well into the pre-season” and the peaks of respiratory illnesses are looking much more like prior to the COVID-19 pandemic this year. She adds with “influenza, we tend to see peaks after the holiday period in late December, early January.”

“Now is the time to take preventative measures to try and stop that peak,” she said.

According to the BC Centre for Disease Control (CDC), it is primarily the H1N1 strain of influenza that is circulating — a strain Henry notes is less likely to cause severe illness in older people compared to H3N2.

“But we do know that can cause more severe illness in younger people. So we need to be aware of that,” she explained.

However, Henry notes that the vaccine available for this year’s flu season should be “very helpful” in protecting people, as the genetic information collected from the CDC test-positive cases matches closely with the strains of influenza covered by the vaccine.

“We want everyone in B.C. to be safe as they gather this holiday season,” said Henry. “That is why continuing to practice healthy habits is so important, so people can focus on connecting and celebrating during the coming weeks.”

Henry adds after the province saw RSV severely affect children in the last years, she notes “we’re seeing a more normal pattern this year.”

“But again, it can cause very severe illness in young children — both RSV A and B.”

She says COVID-19 test-positive cases, hospitalizations, and deaths have decreased since October. According to the province, As of Dec. 7, 182 people were in hospital with COVID-19, 17 of them in critical care.

“To date, by the end of [Sunday], we had 2.4 million doses of the influenza vaccine and more than 1.2 million doses of the COVID vaccines this season. We know that these are well matched, as I mentioned, to what we’re seeing circled. … They’re widely available across the province in over 800 pharmacies and if you get those vaccines now, you’ll be protected as you go into the main part of the holiday season,” Henry said.

“You do this for your friends, your family, teammates, and for our community.”

Henry shared as this is the fourth holiday season after the onset of the pandemic, people have tools to celebrate safely with family and friends. Henry notes wearing masks, washing hands, and covering coughs and sneezes are “healthy habits” we can all employ.

Dr. Henry warns of potential human infection of Avian flu

Meanwhile, Henry says she wants to “make a fuss” about avian influenza, as the province continues to see an increase in activity of H5N1 “affecting more than 50 flocks” in the Lower Mainland and on Vancouver Island.

“There’s always a concern that a person could become infected with human influenza and avian flu at the same time, and that could provide an opportunity for this virus to mutate to infect humans more easily, and increase the risk of a pandemic,” Henry explained.

The best way to reduce the potential of mutation is to receive the flu vaccine, Henry says.

“This is especially important for people who are working in the poultry industry,” she added.

“This is a good opportunity to remind everyone that if you do come across sick or dead wild animals or birds, you shouldn’t touch them or bring them home with you.”

According to public health, avian flu mainly affects birds and very rarely spreads to humans.