An Island Health medical health officer is pleased with the level of update in flu shots within the health authority. (The Canadian Press)

By Ian Holmes

improving situation

Island Health encouraged with influenza trajectory following challenging season

Mar 13, 2023 | 5:26 AM

NANAIMO — A severe, fast-striking flu season fizzled after peaking for about three weeks between mid November and early December.

Dr. Michael Benusic, an Island Health medical health officer, said the rapid rise and decline of the flu is typical pattern for the virus most years.

“It is related to be people getting protection be it from vaccination or getting infected and when people get infected they are protected from some time from getting influenza again.”

What wasn’t typical was high profile deaths among six young people in the province reported early in the flu season, Dr. Benusic noted.

Limited immunity had been built up the previous two years due to various COVID-19 imposed health restrictions, leading to very little flu transmission.

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This winters potent respiratory season led to increased hospitalizations province-wide, which was compounded by increased numbers of respiratory syncytial virus, health officials reported.

To make matters worse COVID-19 cases primarily impacting older people added pressure on hospitals around B.C., provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry told a Dec. 5 media briefing.

While vaccinations for the Influenza was a concern in other parts of the province, Dr. Benusic is convinced high strong flu vaccination rates in the Island Health region limited severe illness and death.

“For seniors over two-thirds of people received a vaccine and for the children under five about half were vaccinated, which I think is the highest we’ve probably ever had in terms of an influenza season.”

Dr. Benusic said the BC Centre of Disease Control is expected to release data this spring on the effectiveness of this season’s flu vaccine.

Some people were able to take advantage of simultaneous flu and COVID-19 shots last fall, which Dr. Benusic believes is a solid template to protect more people and help combat vaccination fatigue.

While he conceded both vaccines can lead to infection and transmission, he said they “do a great job” of decreasing more severe health outcomes.

“To me that should be our primary goal with influenza and COVID-19 vaccination, preventing people from being in hospital and dying from the disease.”

During a Friday, March 10 media briefing Dr. Henry reported a bit of an increase in the less predominant and severe strain of Influenza B.

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ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes