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President & CEO and Chief MHO Joint Update

SENT TO ALL STAFF, MEDICAL STAFF, STUDENTS AND VOLUNTEERS ON BEHALF OF KATHY MACNEIL, PRESIDENT & CEO, AND DR. RICHARD STANWICK, VP POPULATION HEALTH & CHIEF MEDICAL HEALTH OFFICER

Yesterday, Margaret Keenan, a 90-year-old woman from central England became the first person in the world outside of clinical trials to receive the COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer-BioNtech, setting the world on the path to recovery. This morning, Health Canada joined the UK in approving the vaccine with the expectation we will receive 249,000 doses by the end of December, and up to four million by the end of March. As health providers, we have been holding on to hope for an end to the pandemic. We are closer than we have ever been, but to drive the numbers down, it will require a combination of the vaccine and vigilance.

Dr. Henry, along with Premier John Horgan and Health Minister Adrian Dix, shared today how B.C. will distribute the vaccine with the support of the Immunize BC Operations Centre. You can read the full transcripthere. The first two trays of 975 doses will be delivered to Fraser Health and Vancouver Coastal next week. These doses will be for health-care workers in long-term care, assisted living and acute sites. The vaccine has very stringent requirements for storage and delivery and by protecting health-care workers, we are in turn protecting those most vulnerable to the virus.

By the end of January, there will be seven additional sites to reach priority populations in all health regions in the province. These first 385,000 doses will be targeted for health care workers supporting vulnerable populations, those over 80 years of age and rural and remote First Nation communities by the end of March. By late March to early April they will expand to all front-line workers and then in age increments as more vaccines become available. Until it is your turn, be patient and continue to use all the layers of protection. We do not have enough doses to stop transmission yet, but what we are receiving will save lives.

The vaccine approval process is safe, effective and developed to the highest quality, and approved vaccines will save lives and ease challenges on our health and care system. The Pfizer vaccine will be given in two doses, 21 days a part, with full immunity seven days after the second dose. This vaccine is not recommended for anyone under 16 years of age or for those who are pregnant or immunocompromised, but there are seven other manufacturers going through the approval process that we expect to be available for these groups and offer more options for storage and delivery.

Each of us has a role to play in ending the pandemic. Keeping our curve flat will contain the virus and preserve our health system to meet the needs of a population that has been in a constant state of stress since last March. We still have a long road ahead, but the glimmer of hope is getting brighter. Thank you for your continued dedication.

For more information, visitCOVID-19 Vaccines in BC(BC Government site) and

COVID-19 Vaccine information(BCCDC).

SIGNAGE IS AVAILABLE

Do you know that you can access signs and posters for your facilities from our COVID-19 webpage? We have several posters available for you to order, including physical distancing, masking, proper mask use, handwashing and much more. Check out what isavailable here(scroll to access the “Signage” category). To order, please use the form order – or share the PDF withPrint Servicesusing aprint request form.

QUESTION OF THE DAY

Is COVID Airborne?

While it may be possible to keep the virus airborne in very controlled experimental conditions, a huge volume of research into the transmission of this virus, both in controlled settings and epidemiology of transmission between people in different environments, has shown that COVID-19 is primarily spread by respiratory droplets, between people with prolonged contact within 1-2m of each other. Someaerosol传播(小droplets) may occur as well, primarily in situations when a large number of these smaller droplets are produced. Different PPE and procedures are indicated for Aerosol-Generating Medical Procedures, or AGMPs (seePPE Guidelines).

Airborne illnesses remain infectious in room air for long periods of time. These require special air handling in facilities and N95 masks for those in the same room as the infectious person. Examples include tuberculosis, measles and chicken pox.

Analysis by experts:

PROVINCIAL UPDATE

Provincial Update (Today):

  • 619 people have newly-confirmed COVID-19, for a total of 39,337 people
  • 16 new deaths – 559 COVID-19 related deaths in B.C.
  • 11,526 people with active COVID-19 in B.C. – 338 in hospital – 75 in l/ICU

Island Health Update (Tuesday - Today):

  • 16 people have newly-confirmed COVID-19 for a total of 740 people
  • 0 new deaths – 7 COVID-19 related deaths in Island Health
  • 158 people with active COVID-19 in Island Health – 8 in hospital – 4 in ICU
  • 4activeoutbreaksin Island Health care facilities (2 Hospitals – 2 LTC)
  • Seebreakdown by region(South/Central/North)

Read updates from PHODr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix:

COVID-19 INTRANET PAGE UPDATES

Since our last update, the following resources have either been added to or updated and posted on theCOVID-19Intranet page.

New

例和联系人管理

Testing

Changes

例和联系人管理

Clinical Care

Screen Asses and Prioritize

  • Daily COVID-19 ScreeningUpdated with additional information to help users determine when to select Yes vs No, information on accessing the auditing report, and an update on nursing placing orders for COVID-19 testing without a physician order.

External

Check out what isNew Todayon the BCCDC website

Stay informed: