Record number of vaccine doses for flu distributed in B.C. since November, says Lake

The 2013-14 influenza season in B.C. set records with 1.4 million vaccine doses distributed and 80 per cent of health-care workers vaccinated, says Health Minister and Kamloops-North Thompson MLA Terry Lake.

Since Nov. 7 last year when the influenza control program launched, a record 1.4 million doses of vaccine have been distributed throughout the province and, according to a B.C. Centre for Disease Control study, this year’s vaccine was 74 per cent effective in protecting those vaccinated against the most predominant H1N1 strain.

“… Health-care providers made an extraordinary effort to protect their patients by getting vaccinated or wearing a mask, which is appreciated by all British Columbians,” Lake said today.

One health care aid was fired for refusing to get a flu shot or wear a mask. Other health care workers who refused the vaccine agreed to wear masks, Lake said.

This was the first year health authorities fully implemented the policy to require that all health-care workers and visitors get vaccinated or wear a mask when in patient-care areas. Because of this, the vaccination rate among health-care workers was 80 per cent overall in B.C. – a 10-per-cent increase from the previous year, he said.

“As public health professionals plan for the coming influenza season, I want to remind British Columbians that getting vaccinated early is the best way to protect yourself, and others, from complications from influenza,” said provincial health officer Dr. Perry Kendall.

“We are pleased to see that not only are more people getting vaccinated, the vaccine that was available this year was very effective in protecting against influenza. The earlier you get vaccinated, the better prepared you are to fight the flu.”