The Canadian Association of Retired Persons says the NDP provincial government含羞草研究社檚 refusal to provide seniors with free vaccinations against shingles as well as high-dose flu vaccines free of charge 含羞草研究社� as other provinces do 含羞草研究社� is 含羞草研究社渄isappointing if not alarming.含羞草研究社�

CARP has a membership of more than 3,000 seniors in Surrey/White Rock and 20,000 province-wide. In June, it sent a letter to Premier David Eby and Health Minister Adrian Dix lobbying them for free vaccinations as their cost is prohibitive for seniors living on low and fixed incomes.

Ramona Kaptyn, a Surrey resident and CARP BC含羞草研究社檚 chief advocacy and communications officer, noted in B.C. shingles vaccines cost anywhere from $160 to $210, she said.

Kaptyn said she含羞草研究社檚 had shingles twice, and describes it as 含羞草研究社減robably the worst thing you can imagine.含羞草研究社�

The provincial government含羞草研究社檚 response fell flat, she said. 含羞草研究社淲e are disappointed.含羞草研究社�

含羞草研究社淲e含羞草研究社檙e just going to keep trying,含羞草研究社� she vowed. 含羞草研究社淏.C. seems to be behind everybody else in everything.含羞草研究社�

Assistant Deputy Health Minister Maryna Korchagina responded she含羞草研究社檚 含羞草研究社減leased to report that all BC seniors aged 65 and older were offered publicly funded, enhanced influenza vaccines to provide additional protections against influenza-related illness, complications, and hospitalization during the 2022/23 viral respiratory illness season. This offering of enhanced influenza vaccines for all BC seniors will be continuing once again this fall.含羞草研究社�

But CARP says the provincial government is not offering the high-dose flu vaccine, recommended for older adults as it triggers a stronger immune response and provides protection against flu-related complications that, according to the National Advisory Committee on Immunization in Canada, is superior to the enhanced standard-dose vaccine B.C. offers.

含羞草研究社淭his is particularly important given the higher risk of severe flu outcomes in our elders,含羞草研究社� Kaptyn said. 含羞草研究社淭he Centre for Disease Control in the U.S. also recommends the high-dose flu vaccination as it contains four times more antigen than regular vaccines, so it provides superior protection against illness and hospitalization.含羞草研究社�

Kaptyn noted that nearly one in three Canadians will develop shingles, with the severity increasing sharply after age 50. 含羞草研究社淪hingles can lead to postherpetic neuralgia and even death. It not only impacts the quality of life of the affected individual, but it also places a burden on their families and our healthcare system,含羞草研究社� she said.

Meantime, Korchagina in her response to CARP含羞草研究社檚 concern stated that 含羞草研究社渙ur provincial immunization experts are currently assessing the feasibility of a publicly funded shingles vaccine program, which will be reviewed by the ministry for final decision.含羞草研究社�

To this, Kaptyn replies that healthcare 含羞草研究社渘eeds to be fixed now.含羞草研究社�

含羞草研究社淒on含羞草研究社檛 we matter? Don含羞草研究社檛 older adults matter in the healthcare system? What含羞草研究社檚 going on?含羞草研究社�

According the ImmunizeBC, the shingles vaccine can be purchased at most pharmacies and travel clinics and is administered in two doses two to six months apart. Since February 2021, the shingles vaccine has been available at no cost to First Nations seniors aged 65 and older.

tom.zytaruk@surreynowleader.com
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