Swine Flu vaccination for B.C. kids aged 5 to 18 starts today
Dr. Perry Kendall.
VANCOUVER – Swine Flu vaccination of school-aged children between five and 18 starts today, B.C.’s chief health officer confirmed on Monday morning.
Children in that age range have some of the highest attack rates and hospitalization from Swine Flu and some have fallen dangerously ill. They also comprise almost 27 per cent of all hospital admissions in B.C. since April when the first wave of Swine Flu hit.
Almost 200 children in that age range have fallen gravely ill and have been admitted to hospitals in B.C. since April. It is thought some 100 children have been admitted to already packed B.C. hospitals in the past three weeks.
Kendall had promised to look at the issue of prioritizing children in the range of five to 18 when asked about why the government was not vaccinating all school-aged children since most outbreaks in Canada had occurred in schools.
Parents of children aged five to 18 are asked by Kendall to check with their area health clinics and with their family doctors to get their Swine Flu shots.
Vaccination of this age group would dramatically reduce the load on B.C. hospitals in the coming weeks.
Royal Columbian, Richmond General, Kelowna General and Royal Inland hospitals are operating at or above capacity. Emergency units at most hospitals are also packed.
Children under five were already approved for vaccination earlier.
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Posted by News Editor
on Nov 16 2009. Filed under B.C..
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