An additional 45,000 flu shots were purchased by the province for the upcoming flu season. (file photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

flu season

Increased flu shots key in provincial plan to survive COVID-19 pandemic through fall and winter

Sep 9, 2020 | 2:07 PM

NANAIMO — The number of flu shots available in B.C. is reaching a new high during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced an additional 450,000 doses of the flu vaccine were purchased, to be used during the fall and winter across B.C.

Dr. Henry told reporters on Wednesday, Sept. 9 nearly two million total flu shots will be available as flu season strikes the province at the same time active COVID-19 cases are rising.

“We’ve looked at what’s happened with influenza in the southern hemisphere, where they’ve just seen the peak of their influenza season. Their immunizations rates were very high, which has triggered us to purchase more vaccine here. We know how important it is to protect us all from influenza.”

Increasing available flu shots is among a variety of plans announced on Wednesday, funded with an additional $1.6 billion from the province.

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This includes upping COVID-19 testing capacity from roughly 6,000 tests a day to 20,000. BC CDC data showed the province has flagged behind the Canadian average for daily testing during the pandemic.

An additional 7,000 staff will be hired, mainly in long-term care and assisted living homes.

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