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

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害羞草研究所檚 chief advocacy and communications officer, noted in B.C. shingles vaccines cost anywhere from $160 to $210, she said.

Kaptyn said she害羞草研究所檚 had shingles twice, and describes it as 害羞草研究所減robably the worst thing you can imagine.害羞草研究所�

The provincial government害羞草研究所檚 response fell flat, she said. 害羞草研究所淲e are disappointed.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e just going to keep trying,害羞草研究所� she vowed. 害羞草研究所淏.C. seems to be behind everybody else in everything.害羞草研究所�

Assistant Deputy Health Minister Maryna Korchagina responded she害羞草研究所檚 害羞草研究所減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.害羞草研究所�

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.

害羞草研究所淭his is particularly important given the higher risk of severe flu outcomes in our elders,害羞草研究所� Kaptyn said. 害羞草研究所淭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.害羞草研究所�

Kaptyn noted that nearly one in three Canadians will develop shingles, with the severity increasing sharply after age 50. 害羞草研究所淪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,害羞草研究所� she said.

Meantime, Korchagina in her response to CARP害羞草研究所檚 concern stated that 害羞草研究所渙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.害羞草研究所�

To this, Kaptyn replies that healthcare 害羞草研究所渘eeds to be fixed now.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淒on害羞草研究所檛 we matter? Don害羞草研究所檛 older adults matter in the healthcare system? What害羞草研究所檚 going on?害羞草研究所�

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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