News and insights — exclusively for Corporate Members of the BCPhA
Top news from the past week
Get your flu and COVID shots at the same time, health experts urge Sept. 24 — Global News
...pharmacies “will definitely” have access to both vaccines at the same time and are currently building up the infrastructure to be able to give both. “I would strongly encourage all health care providers to think about giving the COVID shot and doing the things they need to do to have access to it and be able to give both shots at the same time,” he added... READ MORE
B.C. politicians vote against lifting vaccine mandate for health-care workers Sept. 22 — Global News
...B.C. is the only jurisdiction in Canada with a vaccine requirement in the health-care system. Despite a long debate this week, municipal leaders from across the province ended up voting down a motion suggesting B.C. should scrap the requirement. “The people who are in hospitals are vulnerable,” Karen Harper, a councillor from Saanich said. “Young old, doesn’t matter Everyone has a right to be as safe as possible.” However, northern B.C. politicians said their communities have been disproportionately impacted by the mandate... READ MORE
Justin Trudeau’s former health minister warns government against politicizing pharmacare
Sept. 21 — Toronto Star
...Philpott said Canadians can only “benefit” from the “cross-party deliberations” stemming from the governing deal, but asked politicians to band together and avoid descending into partisan finger-pointing to get the job done. “We all wish that it could have been done sooner and there’s enormous evidence that it would have saved lives,” Philpott said... READ MORE
COVID outbreaks declared at 5 long-term care homes in B.C. Interior
Sept. 21 — CTV News
…The Interior Health Authority has declared COVID-19 outbreaks at five long-term care homes in its jurisdiction in B.C. Facilities in Kelowna, Oliver, Revelstoke, Fernie and Salmon Arm are impacted, according to the health authority's website. An Interior Health spokesperson told CTV News the latest data shows Bastion Place in Salmon Arm has the highest number of people infected with 20, while the outbreak with the lowest number of infected residents was at McKinney Place in Oliver with six... READ MORE
Ministers in the hot seat at UBCM as mayors and councillors ask tough questions
Sept. 20 — CTV News
...A councillor from Campbell River raised child-care issues for physicians, to which Health Minister Adrian Dix replied that his government is working to meet the expectations of a new generation of health-care workers with the kinds of supports they need for a better work-life balance... READ MORE
B.C. health minister says health care operations will need to grow in summer months to handle wildfire evacuees
Sept. 19 — Globe and Mail
...Adrian Dix said 988 people in long-term care had to be evacuated from multiple towns after B.C. experienced its worst fire season ever this year. Two years ago, 895 had to be evacuated. The minister said hospitals in general saw hundreds more patents than usual during the season, which he said was likely attributable in part to wildfire-smoke impacts... READ MORE
Health Canada to review U.S. panel's conclusion that common decongestant doesn't work
Sept. 18 — CTV News
...Health Canada says it will review a declaration by American government experts who say a key ingredient in over-the-counter cold and allergy medications also available in this country does not work to get rid of nasal and sinus congestion... READ MORE