SENT TO ALL STAFF, MEDICAL STAFF, STUDENTS AND VOLUNTEERS ON BEHALF OF
MARKO PELJHAN, VP, PANDEMIC PLANNING, AND DR. MURRAY FYFE, INTERIM VP POPULATION & PUBLIC HEALTH AND CHIEF MEDICAL HEALTH OFFICER
FEBRUARY 4, 2022
Canada's National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) has updated its guidance on booster doses for people who have had COVID, and is now recommending they wait three months before getting a booster shot. In recommendations released today, NACI said a longer interval between infection and vaccination "may result in a better immune response, as this allows time for this response to mature in breadth and strength, and for circulating antibodies to decrease, thus avoiding immune interference when the vaccine is administered."
For vaccinated individuals aged 12 and older who are eligible for a third dose, the recommendations suggest waiting three months after the onset of symptoms, or following a positive test for anyone who was asymptomatic — while also being at least six months out from a second dose.
NACI also recommends those who experienced COVID infection before starting or completing their primary vaccine series may receive their next dose eight weeks after symptoms started or after testing positive.
There wasn’t a provincial briefing today, but it was noted that briefings will be moved to Wednesdays starting next week. In alignment, we will be shifting this update to once a week on Wednesdays, and will provide additional updates should they be required.
IMMUNIZATION IS A GROUP EFFORT
Almost 400,000 people have received their COVID booster at an Island Health mass immunization clinic or
pharmacy, with nurses, pharmacists, physicians, firefighters, nurse practitioners and midwives joining the Island Health booster campaign. Immunizations have increased from about 14,000 per week to nearly 70,000. About 1/3 of boosters have been administered at 175 pharmacies, and our mass immunization clinics have a roster of immunizers that includes many professions, including Comox Firefighter Brent Cravens.
“When I received my first COVID vaccine, I remember growing very emotional thinking about how this pandemic has influenced the world," he says. “My hat goes off to anyone who is supporting the vaccination campaign. I feel lucky to be working alongside so many great people during these clinics."
A huge thank you to Brent and the many people who have supported the significant effort to immunize our communities. Read more.
IMMUNIZATION UPDATE
island health STATS & TRENDS
- Hospitalizations: 181 total (106 medicine – 10 critical care – including 65 recovered)
- Non-critical: 29% with 0-1 dose – 70% with 2-3 doses
- Critical: 92% with 0-1 dose – 8% with 2-3 doses
- Current age range: 9-98 – Average age: 66
- Deaths: 11 new (since Feb 1) – 188 total COVID-19 related deaths
- Lab positive PCR trend: Daily average for past 7 days: 189 new cases (17% decrease)
- Current outbreaks: 21 LTC/AL sites and 3 acute care sites (see list here)
- Read the provincial daily statement
- Find local and BC-wide statistics, including case counts, on BCCDC’s Data Webpage
COVID-19 Intranet Pages:
Since our last update, the following resources have either been added to, or revised and republished on, the COVID-19 Intranet pages.
Changes
Administering Vaccines (Working in Immunization Clinics)
- COVID-19 Vaccine Products & Intended Age Group has been updated to reflect Booster Dose is now for 12+ and preferred product information for the booster dose.
Clinic Operations (Working in Immunization Clinics)
- Mass Clinic Safety Huddle has been updated with a reminder to check ImmsBC before vaccinating every client, to see if they quality for a 3rd dose (vs a booster dose).
COVID-19 Vaccines FAQs (Additional COVID-19 Vaccine Resources)
- COVID-19 Vaccination Clinical Guidance the following sections have been updated
- Purpose statement
- 1.1 What if a client presents without an appointment?
- 1.5 Is there a preferred vaccine for Third Dose and Booster Dose?
- 1.9 How soon after COVID-19 infection can/should someone receive a COVID-19 vaccine?
Documenting and Reporting
- ImmsBC: In-Clinic Procedure Manual has been updated to reflect changes made for release 15.2.0 in ImmsBC.
Patient Placement and Transport
- Adult COVID-19 Site Planning, Cohorting, HLOC Transport and Repatriation Procedure has been updated as follows:
- Updates to cohorting of COVID patients have been made in the Cohort Sites Set-up section.
- Updated Appendix 2: COVID-19 MHSU Patient Treatment Scenarios.
Screening - Facility Entrances
- COVID-19 Long-term Care Facility Screening by Greeter has been updated to identify when POCT occurs in screening process, and includes process for staff who have mild symptoms upon active screening.
Transport, Storage and Handling (Working in Immunization Clinics)
Storing, Handling and Preparing COVID-19 Vaccines has been updated with additional information about expiry date extension for Comirnaty (Pfizer) Pediatric.
Have a question or concern about COVID-19? Email pandemic@islandhealth.ca.
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