In the News

CBC: A line of people stretched outside the Shoppers Drug Mart at Vancouver's Kingsgate Mall on Wednesday afternoon, made up of hopefuls eager to get their first shot of the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine. But just before 1:30 p.m. PT, their hopes were dashed. A security guard told the crowd the store's pharmacy had run out of its supply.  "We just have to be patient," said Catherine Bussey, who left without an appointment. "I can't really get angry. It's not going to serve any point. I'll keep coming back and trying." 

New Westminster Record: Beyond a doubt, seniors were hardest hit in our first year of the pandemic. They remain at highest risk for serious illness, complications, hospital admission and death. B.C. rightly prioritized our elders with its vaccination plan. We are now in Phase 2 and in April, we will be entering Phase 3. To find out when you and your family members can get vaccinated, keep checking the province’s website.

e-know.ca: During the COVID-19 pandemic, some patients have not been checking in with their family doctor, and not keeping on top of their medical care. We recognize that this has been a challenging time for many people, and family doctors can be a support, particularly for people with ongoing chronic conditions that should be monitored. Some people may not be sure whether their doctor is available or how they should best connect with them in the event they will be receiving care in person or by telephone/telehealth.

New Westminster Record: New Westminster residents may soon be able to get their COVID-19 shots at Anvil Centre. The Fraser Health Authority announced Tuesday it has opened five mass immunization clinics in Chilliwack, Cloverdale, South Surrey, Delta North and Coquitlam, and plans are in the works to open four more in New Westminster, Burnaby, Surrey and Langley. “These new clinics will support our current immunization plans and will remain open through phases three and four as we work to immunize our communities over the coming months,” stated a Fraser Health news release.

Vernon Morning Star: The expanded Martin Street Urgent and Primary Care Centre and Ponderosa Primary Care Clinic in Penticton are intended to round out what health care is available in the community. They are also how the Ministry of Health wants to see care be delivered in the future. “Penticton is a model for British Columbia,” said Minister Adrian Dix after the announcement for the Martin Street urgent care centre on March 9. “We’re proud of Ponderosa, and working with all of the people for the urgent and primary care centre is one more step towards providing the primary care people in the South Okanagan Similkameen deserve.”

Global News: Penticton will soon be getting its own urgent and primary care centre. On Tuesday, provincial health officials announced that the centre will be operated by Interior Health and will open its doors on March 31st. The urgent and primary care centre (UPCC) will be located at Unit 101, 437 Martin Street. Reasons for visiting a UPCC and not a hospital include sprains, minor cuts or burns, high fevers and minor infections.

New Westminster Record: New Westminster families have been given a new, expanded health checklist as part of a provincial effort to keep people with COVID-19 symptoms out of schools. The school district has updated its daily health checklist in response to new February 2021 guidelines from the B.C. Centre for Disease Control. Under the new guidelines, any student with at least one “key symptom” of illness is expected to stay home and get a health assessment (either from a health-care provider or 811) to determine whether COVID-19 testing is required.

New Westminster Record: This week, we are moving into Phase 2 of our provincial COVID-19 Immunization Plan. Starting Monday, seniors born in 1931 or earlier (90+) and Indigenous (aboriginal, Mehti or Inuit) citizens born in 1956 or earlier (65+) were able to book their first shots. Phase 2 will extend into mid-April and includes all seniors, indigenous people and people who live and work in independent living. Seniors in independent living or supportive housing and those who receive homecare support do not need to call to book their shots. They will be contacted by the health authority or the housing operator.

Vernon Morning Star: Oliver Mayor Martin Johanssen hopes that his town can set the South Okanagan on the path for better primary health care. Johanssen has assembled a resolution for the Southern Interior Local Government Association (SILGA) calling for more funding specifically for team-based primary care clinics like the Ponderosa Primary Care Clinic in Penticton. “There’s no silver bullet,” said Johanssen. “We have to explore this from every angle and try and get some traction somewhere.”

Voiceonline: Fraser Health announced on Monday that it is implementing enhanced management strategies for case finding and contact management to help prevent transmission of COVID-19 and COVID-19 variants. Fraser Health said it is proactively implementing these new, aggressive actions immediately to protect its communities from COVID-19 and COVID-19 variants.

Voiceonline: Fraser Health on Sunday declared COVID-19 outbreaks at Surrey Memorial Hospital and Chilliwack General Hospital after evidence of transmission in a medicine unit at each site. 

One patient at Surrey Memorial Hospital and five patients at Chilliwack General Hospital have tested positive for COVID-19 as part of these outbreaks. The outbreaks are limited to one unit at each hospital. The units are temporarily closed to admissions

Voiceonline: Fraser Health on Sunday declared COVID-19 outbreaks at Surrey Memorial Hospital and Chilliwack General Hospital after evidence of transmission in a medicine unit at each site. One patient at Surrey Memorial Hospital and five patients at Chilliwack General Hospital have tested positive for COVID-19 as part of these outbreaks. The outbreaks are limited to one unit at each hospital. The units are temporarily closed to admissions

Vernon Morning Star: Social support for seniors, those living alone, caregivers and those struggling with addiction are getting a boost. The Lake Country Health Planning Society has been granted $21,840 from the district of Lake Country. The funds, from general surplus, are approved based on the assumption that 2021 will be the final year funding will be required from the district.

Penticton Herald: Investing public money into a non-profit health centre would pay off in better access to doctors in Summerland, local politicians heard Monday. Following a presentation from its potential tenant, the South Okanagan Similkameen Division of Family Practice, council voted unanimously to order a feasibility study of the project.

Voiceonline: Fraser Health announced on Monday that it is implementing enhanced management strategies for case finding and contact management to help prevent transmission of COVID-19 and COVID-19 variants. Fraser Health said it is proactively implementing these new, aggressive actions immediately to protect its communities from COVID-19 and COVID-19 variants.

Coast Reporter: Powell River Division of Family Practice has released results of its latest COVID-19 survey, with 647 people responding to the month-long survey, conducted in late 2020. This was the second COVID-19 survey conducted by the physicians and its intent is to illustrate how COVID-19 has impacted Powell River and how respondents could be best supported during this time.

Maple Ridge News: A new chronic pain self-management program is available for residents of Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows. The program – that just finished its pilot cohort at the Ridge Meadows Wellness and Urgent and Primary Care Centre – educates adults who have chronic pain on how pain works and gives them strategies to increase their quality of life and daily function. “The medical system has traditionally treated pain by focusing on the biological issue, but we know from the literature that persistent pain has mental and social aspects as well,” explained Natalie Carrion, an occupational therapist for the program.

The Chilliwack Progress: A local campaign is hoping to warm hearts and bring thanks to frontline heroes in Chilliwack, Agassiz and Hope. Chilliwack Division of Family Practice has launched its Hearts Campaign just in time for Valentine’s Day, and now they want folks to write down messages of appreciation on hearts and share them on social media.

The Chilliwack Progress: Inez Louis says the power of a story can bring communities together. Louis, who hails from the Skowkale community and is a nurse, shared her thoughts on storytelling in the latest YouTube videos created in partnership with the Chilliwack Division of Family Practice and the Chilliwack Economic Recovery Network.

Global News: Reaction is pouring in as the South Okanagan’s only midwifery clinic announced its upcoming closure after a decade of offering maternity care to expectant mothers. “It is really sad, to be honest,” said Summerland mother Erin Carlson, who gave birth twice at home in 2017 and 2020 with the support of Willow Community Midwives. “I don’t think I was shocked, because I know the pandemic has taken a lot of shock value away from a lot of different things.