Lyonel Doherty
Times-Chronicle
Interior Health expects to go “full steam ahead” with more COVID vaccines by the end of the month.
That’s what Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Albert de Villiers said in today’s technical briefing.
He acknowledged the lull in the delivery of the Pfizer vaccine, but said they expect to get more next week.
“By the end of the month we should be full steam ahead . . . if nothing else goes wrong.”
For example, Dr. de Villiers said a snowstorm in Germany has affected the supply chain.
“We should be up and running within two or three weeks.”
The health officer gave an update on COVID-19, which has resulted in new outbreaks in a couple of care homes in Kamloops.
He said Sunnybank Centre in Oliver still has 38 cases (27 residents and 11 staff) but noted that only eight cases are active. He pointed out that six residents have died from the virus.
Dr. de Villiers reported that Heritage Square long-term care in Vernon now has 70 cases, six of which are active. He added that nine residents have died from COVID-19.
He also reported the virus cluster at Big White is beginning to “stabilize.” The last report identified 235 cases on the mountain, he said.
Dr. de Villiers said Interior Health’s priority one group continues to be long-term care patients and staff.
“We’re still on track to have everyone in priority one immunized,” he stated.
The health officer said as soon as they get more vaccine, they can return to the 35-day interval between shots. The interval is currently 42 days.
He said the plan is to open up mass vaccination clinics in B.C. this year.
Dr. de Villiers said they are still discussing the COVID variant from the UK, noting this strain has landed in the region. It’s not widespread but officials expect to see more cases, he pointed out.
