The Canadian Association of Retired Persons says the NDP provincial governmentsa国际传媒檚 refusal to provide seniors with free vaccinations against shingles as well as high-dose flu vaccines free of charge sa国际传媒� as other provinces do sa国际传媒� is sa国际传媒渄isappointing if not alarming.sa国际传媒�

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 BCsa国际传媒檚 chief advocacy and communications officer, noted in B.C. shingles vaccines cost anywhere from $160 to $210, she said.

Kaptyn said shesa国际传媒檚 had shingles twice, and describes it as sa国际传媒減robably the worst thing you can imagine.sa国际传媒�

The provincial governmentsa国际传媒檚 response fell flat, she said. sa国际传媒淲e are disappointed.sa国际传媒�

sa国际传媒淲esa国际传媒檙e just going to keep trying,sa国际传媒� she vowed. sa国际传媒淏.C. seems to be behind everybody else in everything.sa国际传媒�

Assistant Deputy Health Minister Maryna Korchagina responded shesa国际传媒檚 sa国际传媒減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.sa国际传媒�

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.

sa国际传媒淭his is particularly important given the higher risk of severe flu outcomes in our elders,sa国际传媒� Kaptyn said. sa国际传媒淭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.sa国际传媒�

Kaptyn noted that nearly one in three Canadians will develop shingles, with the severity increasing sharply after age 50. sa国际传媒淪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,sa国际传媒� she said.

Meantime, Korchagina in her response to CARPsa国际传媒檚 concern stated that sa国际传媒渙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.sa国际传媒�

To this, Kaptyn replies that healthcare sa国际传媒渘eeds to be fixed now.sa国际传媒�

sa国际传媒淒onsa国际传媒檛 we matter? Donsa国际传媒檛 older adults matter in the healthcare system? Whatsa国际传媒檚 going on?sa国际传媒�

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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