Close X
Monday, November 11, 2024
ADVT 
National

Care home outbreaks reminder of vaccination limits

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 10 Mar, 2021 08:38 PM
  • Care home outbreaks reminder of vaccination limits

Health experts say COVID-19 outbreaks in two long-term care homes in British Columbia after most residents and staff were vaccinated are a reminder of the limits of immunization.

Officials announced yesterday that one resident and one staff member tested positive for COVID-19 at Fleetwood Place, a long-term care facility in Surrey where 88 per cent of residents had been vaccinated.

The outbreak follows one declared Sunday at the Cottonwoods Care Centre in Kelowna, where 10 residents and two staff members tested positive despite 82 per cent of residents being immunized.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry has said vaccines are effective at preventing severe illness and death, but they don't necessarily stop all transmission, so masks and physical distancing remain important.

Horacio Bach, a University of British Columbia infectious diseases expert, says the first dose of vaccine generally provides protection after three weeks, but older people's immune systems may take longer to produce antibodies or may not produce them at all.

He also says it's possible that the cases are variants of concern, which vaccines may not be as effective against.

Bach adds it's important for the public to know that no vaccine prevents illness 100 per cent of the time, but the COVID-19 shots have been proven to be safe and very effective against serious illness and hospitalization.

MORE National ARTICLES

11 COVID deaths over 3 days

11 COVID deaths over 3 days
B.C.'s provincial health officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, said creating an online booking system is "quite a large project" and Fraser Health was the only authority with an existing platform.

11 COVID deaths over 3 days

Alberta lifts more COVID restrictions

Alberta lifts more COVID restrictions
Health Minister Tyler Shandro says the retail limit is increasing to 25 per cent capacity from 15 per cent.

Alberta lifts more COVID restrictions

Manslaughter charge in death of off-duty officer

Manslaughter charge in death of off-duty officer
Fifty-five-year-old Const. Allan Young died in July last year, several days after an altercation with another man while Young was visiting Nelson, B.C.

Manslaughter charge in death of off-duty officer

Vancouver Police arrests alleged party hosts for health order violations

Vancouver Police arrests alleged party hosts for health order violations
Manjinder Sagoo, 37, is now charged with three counts of failing to comply with an order of the health officer, contrary to Section 99 on the B.C. Public Health Act.

Vancouver Police arrests alleged party hosts for health order violations

Construction begins on new St. Paul's Hospital

Construction begins on new St. Paul's Hospital
Health Minister Adrian Dix says it's a "great day," as the new site will be a full-service acute care hospital and integrated health-care campus with a capacity for 548 beds.

Construction begins on new St. Paul's Hospital

Federal, B.C. rent help for 25,000 households

Federal, B.C. rent help for 25,000 households
Ahmed Hussen, federal families, children and social development minister, says the 10-year, $517-million Canada-B.C. Housing Benefit will provide financial assistance to top up monthly rent payments for those who can't make ends meet.

Federal, B.C. rent help for 25,000 households