Late last week, the World Health Organization declared the end of COVID-19 as a global health emergency.

Following that announcement, Minister of Health Adrian Dix and provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry commented on the 含羞草研究社渋mportant milestone含羞草研究社� and spoke of the many challenges society has weathered 含羞草研究社渢ogether含羞草研究社� during the past three years.

含羞草研究社淲e have been transitioning out of the emergency phase of the COVID-19 pandemic for some time now, and have been integrating COVID-19 surveillance, monitoring, processes, and supports into our regular health system operations,含羞草研究社� said Henry.

However, she noted: 含羞草研究社淐OVID-19 is still with us, and will be with us for the foreseeable future, so we need to continue to monitor and to take measures we know protect ourselves and others.含羞草研究社�

The doctor also took time to answer a few questions about the virus for local seniors.

1. With the fifth booster shot out, should all or most seniors have already received an invitation to get that shot. And if not, what should they do?

含羞草研究社� B.C.含羞草研究社檚 COVID-19 spring booster program started on April 3, 2023. Eligible individuals will receive an invitation through the Get Vaccinated system once they have reached the 6-month interval since their last dose of vaccine. That means that most people will have received their invitation by the end of May.

含羞草研究社� As of April 26, a total of 149,596 booster doses have been given across all high-risk groups since the beginning of the 2023 spring booster campaign. Of these, over 90 per cent have been delivered by pharmacies.

含羞草研究社� We含羞草研究社檙e seeing an average of 8,000-10,000 bookings made per day, with 85 to 90 per cent of these bookings made by individuals aged 60 years and older, which is consistent with the criteria for the spring booster campaign.

含羞草研究社� Health authorities started administering spring booster doses in long-term care and assisted living facilities on April 11.

含羞草研究社� More information about vaccination eligibility is available at:

含羞草研究社� Members of the public can phone the call centre at 1-833-838-2323 if they have questions booking a COVID-19 vaccine.

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2. Is the sixth booster going to be coming soon, or is it being reducing to once a year 含羞草研究社� like the flu shot?

含羞草研究社� In B.C., our focus remains on people getting at least one dose of a bivalent booster shot 含羞草研究社� regardless of what doses they have received in the past.

含羞草研究社� The defences we have built through immunization and the combination of vaccine immunity and infection induced immunity means that we have strong defences as a community.

含羞草研究社� We have very good evidence that our vaccines are still providing strong protection 含羞草研究社� and cross-protection for Omicron subvariants 含羞草研究社� from serious illness, hospitalization and death, especially if you含羞草研究社檝e had the bivalent booster with the omicron antigen.

含羞草研究社� As stated in the March 3 NACI statement, there continue to be many uncertainties around the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic. Which means we still do not know if another dose of vaccine will be needed next fall or if it will be a longer period before immunity decreases and another dose is needed. We will continue to monitor and will provide information as we see how things evolve.

含羞草研究社�Given that it is possible that additional booster doses may be recommended by NACI for broader population groups in the fall of 2023 around the same time as influenza vaccines are offered.

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3. Is COVID still as dangerous and potentially lethal to seniors as when the pandemic first started? Can you explain?

含羞草研究社� People are still getting sick with COVID-19, and those who are most at risk continue to be older people, people with immunocompromising conditions and people who have not yet been vaccinated.

含羞草研究社� However, through combinations of COVID-19 infection and vaccination, we have achieved a very high level of population immunity and the number of people at risk for serious outcomes from COVID-19 has dropped significantly.

含羞草研究社� At this stage, even amongst the frailest elderly populations in long-term care facilities, most vaccinated residents with COVID-19 experience mild symptoms.

含羞草研究社� We now have good protection against COVID-19 on a population basis and we are in a much better position than we were earlier in the pandemic.

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4. What safeguards should seniors be following, if any, and why? ie. Are masks still encouraged, are they helpful at this point? Is isolation really necessary any longer? etc.

含羞草研究社� Even though the respiratory season has ended and we are taking steps to return to pre-pandemic operations in long-term care, assisted living, and health-care facilities, we continue to encourage everyone, including seniors, to get the spring booster and take appropriate measures to prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses:

含羞草研究社� Stay at home if you feel unwell and stay away from people at higher risk of serious illness if you have symptoms.

含羞草研究社� Wear a mask if you have respiratory symptoms, or are recovering from a respiratory illness, and you are around others, especially people at higher risk of serious illness.

含羞草研究社� Practise good respiratory etiquette and hand hygiene.

含羞草研究社� If you are someone at higher risk consider wearing a well-fitted medical mask when in indoor crowded spaces where ventilation is poor.

含羞草研究社� People with symptoms of COVID-19 symptoms should stay home as much as possible to reduce any potential spread of illness. Stay home until your symptoms have improved, your fever is gone, and you are able to participate in your usual activities. Visit for more information.

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5. What含羞草研究社檚 happening in care homes? Can we go visit friends? Are tests still required, if we go?

含羞草研究社� Effective Apr. 6, 2023, visitor restrictions in long-term care, assisted living, and health-care facilities were lifted.

含羞草研究社� This includes the requirement for proof of vaccination to enter long-term care, assisted living, and health-care facilities, which is no longer in effect.

含羞草研究社� Rapid antigen testing in long-term care is no longer required.

含羞草研究社� Universal mask-wearing by all staff and visitors in health-care facilities is no longer mandatory.

含羞草研究社� People should check with their local facility about their policies before they visit.

含羞草研究社�People who are sick or have symptoms of illness should not visit long-term care and seniors含羞草研究社� assisted living sites; if you can, postpone visits to loved ones in LTC until you are feeling better.

含羞草研究社� Visitors are expected to follow the precautions at each facility, including:

含羞草研究社� Hand hygiene

含羞草研究社� Respiratory etiquette like coughing into your elbow, throwing away used tissues into a waste bin, and washing your hands or using a sanitized immediately after

含羞草研究社� Respecting personal space

含羞草研究社� Mask wearing, when appropriate or as requested by a health-care professional

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6. Are COVID tests still available free of charge from pharmacies, and if so, for how long 含羞草研究社� indefinitely?

含羞草研究社� Currently, rapid antigen testing kits are free for everyone in B.C. People can visit their local pharmacy and ask for their testing kit.

含羞草研究社� There have been no planned changes to the province含羞草研究社檚 strategy of rapid test distribution, nor is there a plan to end free rapid test distribution in the near term.

含羞草研究社� More information about rapid antigen testing kits can be found here:

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7. Is there anything else, as a senior, that I should be aware of now about COVID-19?

含羞草研究社� COVID-19 is still with us, and is likely to be around for many years. Thanks to the high level of immunity primarily from vaccination and combinations of boosters and infection the virus is no longer causing severe disease in most people. This means we can safely get back to many of the important things in our lives like gathering with family and friends. We know seniors have borne the brunt of many of the challenges of this pandemic and it is important to be able to safely get back to activities and connections in our lives. As we have learned, some settings are less risky than others. If you are at higher risk enjoying other people含羞草研究社檚 company outside may be better; especially if someone has been sick or in contact with someone who is ill. As well we can add additional protection by wearing a mask when we have symptoms ourselves and need to go out or if we are in crowded indoor settings.

含羞草研究社� People who have not yet been vaccinated are still at a higher risk of contracting and spreading infectious diseases and of having more severe illness with COVID-19.

含羞草研究社� We strongly encourage everyone to receive their primary series of vaccinations as soon as possible and to consider receiving a bivalent booster if they have not already done so.

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