The Alberta government did a good job making the COVID-19 vaccine widely accessible. Now, people with certain qualifying medical conditions can get it at no cost. Now the province is experiencing a historic surge of influenza cases. In turn, public health officials are working hard to spur vaccinations and shield at-risk communities.
The no-cost COVID-19 vaccine prioritizes people with all types of disabilities. This includes individuals with DS, LD, ID, ADHD CP, congenital and spinal cord injuries. It’s high time we brought this reality to people fighting chronic illnesses as well. This includes people with chronic liver, lung, and kidney disease, as well as cystic fibrosis.
Individuals diagnosed with diabetes, cardiovascular diseases such as cardiomyopathies or coronary artery disease, and mental health disorders such as mood disorders and schizophrenia are eligible to receive free vaccinations. You won’t want to miss this opportunity – improve your health by registering TODAY! Individuals who are living with HIV and individuals with primary immunodeficiency diseases can get the vaccine at no cost to them. This invitation goes for patients who have received solid organ or blood stem cell transplants, too. Additionally, pregnant women and people with obesity have been added to this further broadened program.
Now, health experts are raising the alarm on the need for these measures as strains of influenza continue to develop and pose risks. As Dr. Jesse Papenburg noted, the H3N2 strain circulating now isn’t an exact match to the vaccine. This mismatch is a concern, as it may dampen the effectiveness of the vaccine.
From Alberta, pharmacists report systemic issues in their ability to keep enough doses of the COVID-19 vaccine on hand. This continued high demand for vaccination, when paired with the rapid increase of influenza cases, is creating an extra strain on healthcare resources.
As she put it, Dr. Shazma Mithani, an emergency physician, detailed a crisis in our emergency departments that is unprecedented. “We are seeing numbers that we’ve never seen before in our emergency departments,” he stated. Some patients present with debilitating symptoms such as persistent fevers, crushing fatigue, myalgias, cough, and dyspnea. As a result, not only hospital admissions increased substantially.
Rosalina Yuen, a city health professional, encouraged all people with suspected viral infections to focus on resting and hydration. “Because it’s a viral infection, we’ll tell them to restore like a lot of rest, increase fluids, and just don’t go to work — rest at home so that it doesn’t get spread,” she advised. Yuen mentioned that vaccination is now more widely available to those eligible on an income based at or below specified conditions, or seniors age 65 and older.
Vaccination remains one of the most important preventive measures recommended by doctors to protect against severe illness. “It’s available publicly for people that are qualified for certain conditions,” Yuen explained.
