In the News

  • Greater Victoria doctors take to social media to tackle vaccine hesitancy

    Times Colonist: Greater Victoria doctors concerned about COVID-vaccine hesitancy, especially amid the spread of a new variant on the Island, have ramped up their efforts to encourage immunization by posting information ­videos to YouTube and Facebook. “There is a lot of misinformation out there and as a consequence, vaccine hesitancy is a real concern in spite of the good progress with the vaccine rollout,” said Dr. Aaron Childs, a family physician with the Victoria Division of Family Practice, which is behind the videos.

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  • Powell River Health Area COVID-free to finish May

    My Powell River Now: Judging from their vaccination rates, people in the Powell River Health Area are committed to putting COVID-19 behind them. According to the Powell River Division of Family Practice – a community-based group of family physicians and facilitators – local residents are getting their first dose of a COVID vaccine at a rate at, or above, the provincial average.

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  • Multi-purpose development planned featuring Indigenous health centre

    Energetic City: Developers are planning to build a multi-purpose facility to help fill the healthcare gap in Fort St. John. Peace Holdings is working with the Treaty 8 Tribal Association to build a complex that includes an Indigenous health centre and apartments. The building is part of the planned Prairie Rose Park subdivision on 86th Street, which was acquired in 2012. “The health centre will be the anchor of this development and will provide counselling, medical services and nurses, perhaps, in the space that will be allocated for [Indigenious peoples],” says Peace Holdings representative Ron Brar.

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  • COVID cases fade in Powell River Local Health Area

    My Powell River Now: One confirmed case of COVID. That was it for the Powell River Health Area from May 16th to 22nd, according to the BC Centre for Disease Control. The Health Area includes the City of Powell River, qathet Regional District (minus Lasqueti), and Tla’amin Nation.  There’s even more good news as the number of people getting a COVID vaccine in the Powell River region continues to rise.

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  • Okanagan hospital district calls for Interior Health to be better communicators

    Vernon Morning Star: The Okanagan-Similkameen Regional Hospital District Board wants better communication with Interior Health At the hospital district’s May 20 meeting, the board voted unanimously to ask for the in-camera meeting to discuss communications and funding for primary care facilities in the area. The request comes following an earlier request for funding from Interior Health.

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  • Maple Ridge doctor honoured for outstanding improvements to local health care

    Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows News: A leading physician who has improved the quality of patient care in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows has been awarded the Ridge Meadows Division Member Excellence Award for 2021. Dr. Ravi Vanukuru was honoured with the award mid-May for the many projects he has worked on, including a referral project he led in gastroenterology and urology that has created innovative system improvements, like reduced patient wait times. He has also supported other physicians to lead panel management and quality improvement projects.

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  • Celebrate BC Family Doctor Day on May 19

    Vernon Morning Star: On May 19 you can celebrate the more than 6,000 family doctors across the province on BC Family Doctor Day. In recognition of one local family doctor, Penticton-based family medicine practitioner Dr. Jessica Luksts has been named a 2021 BC College of Family Physicians award winner as part of the BC Family Doctor Day celebrations. Dr. Luksts is being honoured for her part in helping to ensure there was adequate personal protective equipment for the medical community in the early days of the pandemic.

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  • 2 Okanagan doctors win awards from College of Family Physicians

    Castanet: A pair of Okanagan doctors have received annual awards from the BC College of Family Physicians. The awards to Dr. Taran Main in Kelowna and Dr. Jessica Luksts in Penticton were amongst several handed out in advance of Family Doctor Day on May 19. Award recipients are nominated by a member of the public, “BC’s family doctors spend time getting to know patients and their families, delivering patient-centred care that takes into account the whole context of a person’s life,” says Dr. Marjorie Docherty, Kelowna-based family physician and president of the BC College of Family Physicians.

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  • Just two new cases in Powell River Health Area as vaccinations ramp up

    My Powell River Now: COVID-19 vaccinations and local case numbers are headed in opposite directions in the Powell River Health Area. And that’s a good thing. The Powell River Division of Family Practice says between May 2nd and 8th, there were just two new cases in the area. This includes the City of Powell River, qathet Regional District (minus Lasqueti), and Tla’amin Nation. Vaccinations are hitting a new gear in B.C. and the same is true in the Powell River area.

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  • Mixing COVID-19 vaccines safe but effect on immunity not yet clear: U.K. study

    News 1130: It’s not yet clear how it affects the immune system, but preliminary study results suggest mixing certain COVID-19 vaccines is safe, though it causes some more frequent symptoms. This comes as more provinces, B.C. being the latest, decide to stop using the AstraZeneca shot as a first dose, reserving supply for second doses. Researchers at Oxford University say there was an increase in short-term adverse reactions, with more frequent mild to moderate symptoms reported, after the Pfizer vaccine was followed four weeks later by AstraZeneca, or vice versa.

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  • B.C. holding remaining AstraZeneca vaccine doses, reports 600 new COVID cases

    News 1130: B.C. is holding its remaining AstraZeneca vaccine doses and saving them for when people get their second doses. “Given the limited availability of the AstraZeneca vaccine supply, we are holding all remaining AstraZeneca vaccine for dose-two booster immunizations. Existing pharmacy bookings will proceed, but no additional appointments will be accepted at this time,” reads a joint statement from Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix. “We are also awaiting the findings of studies currently underway on interchangeability of COVID-19 vaccines, as well as guidance from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization. This will help determine our approach and options for second doses,” they add.

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  • COVID-19 Mouth Rinse/Gargle Sample Collection kits to Surrey schools

    Voiceonline: Fraser Health, BC Children’s Hospital, and the Surrey School District are working together to provide schools in Surrey with take-home COVID-19 Mouth Rinse/Gargle Sample Collection kits. This initiative will help ensure students who become symptomatic while at school have quick access to COVID-19 testing, while preventing COVID-19 transmission in the school environment.

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  • New after hours urgent care clinic open for all in Comox Valley

    My Comox Valley Now: You can now get urgent medical care in the Comox Valley outside of regular hours. The Comox Valley Division of Family Practice, in partnership with Island Health has expanded urgent primary care services for patients. The Comox Valley After Hours Urgent Care Clinic is open from 5:00pm to 9:00pm and on weekends from 9:00am to 2:00pm for urgent medical care. 

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  • Fraser Health declares COVID-19 outbreak at Surrey Memorial Hospital

    Vancouver is Awesome: Fraser Health has declared a coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak at Surrey Memorial Hospital after evidence of transmission in a medicine unit. Five patients at Surrey Memorial Hospital have tested positive for the virus in this outbreak, explains a news release. The outbreak is limited to one unit, which is temporarily closed to admissions. "Upon declaring the outbreak, Fraser Health immediately implemented precautions, including enhanced cleaning as well as contact tracing to protect the health of all staff, medical staff, and patients," explains the regional health authority. 

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  • Opinion: Hesitant about the AstraZeneca vaccine? You really shouldn't be

    Vancouver is Awesome: If you are 40 and over, should you or shouldn’t you get the AstraZeneca Covishield vaccine? Unlike the mRNA Pfizer BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, the AstraZeneca vaccine has been associated with the increased incidence of a very rare type of blood-clotting disorder known as VIPIT (vaccine-induced prothrombotic idiopathic thrombocytopenia). In B.C., the AstraZeneca vaccine is now being offered for those age 40 and over (just announced on Monday) as VIPIT seems to affect younger adults, particularly younger women.

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  • Removal of Spirit Square glass panels sparks concern from homeless advocates

    My Campbell River Now: The glass panels that cover the stage at Spirit Square in downtown Campbell River are coming down, and it’s sparking concern from homeless advocates. The removal of the panels was one of the suggestions made by the Downtown Safety Select Committee, and council endorsed the suggestion at its latest meeting. Over the past four months, the committee was tasked with providing recommendations for improving the downtown core, while also helping to determine how to best use the $225,000 budgeted this year for safety initiatives.

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  • Powell River physicians offer safety reminders amid rise in COVID-19 cases

    My Powell River Now: The Powell River Division of Family Practice says we can’t let our guard down. In a Facebook post, it says “the third wave of the pandemic has arrived in Powell River.” This comes as the BC Centre for Disease Control reported 15 new COVID-19 cases for the Powell River Local Health Area from April 4th to 10th. The area includes the City of Powell River, qathet Regional District (minus Lasqueti), and Tla’amin Nation, which has seen five cases and has a 9:00pm to 6:00am curfew in place. 

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  • Mass immunization clinic opens at NVMA

    Merritt Herald: A mass immunization clinic kicked off at Nicola Valley Memorial Arena on Monday, April 12. The clinic seeks to vaccinate as many eligible Merritt citizens as possible against COVID-19.  On Sunday, prior to Monday’s opening, the clinic was blessed with a prayer and smudging lead by Indigenous Knowledge Keeper, Nkwala, Daniel L. Manuel from the Sylix Nation. Manuel shared wisdom about the custom of smudging and blessing by prayer. “With the sage, we are asking the bad spirits to leave, and with the eagle feather we are calling in the good spirits,” said Manuel.

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  • Mass vaccination clinic coming to NVMA

    The Toronto Star: According to an update released by the Merritt Chapter of the Rural and Remote Division of Family Practice, Merritt family doctors will be helping vaccinate community members by joining Public Health mass immunization clinics, beginning April 12 at the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena.

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  • New urgent and primary care centre opens in Penticton

    Penticton Herald: People living in Penticton and surrounding communities have better access to team-based everyday health care with a new urgent and primary care centre (UPCC) that is now open at 101 - 437 Martin Street. "The opening of the Penticton UPCC is excellent news for people living in the region," said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health. "The centre will help connect more people with the health care they need when they need it most. Area residents who currently do not have a primary care provider will benefit from increased access to same-day appointments for urgent needs and ongoing primary care."

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