Vaccination

COVID, flu vaccinations for general population to begin this week

COVID, flu vaccinations for general population to begin this week

Ruby Pratka, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

editor@qctonline.com

Quebecers who want additional protection against COVID-19 and seasonal flu will be able to book vaccination appointments online and over the phone as of Oct. 16, public health officials said last week.

“Every year, it’s no surprise, when temperatures start drop- ping and people start going back inside, there’s always an increase in respiratory viruses,” Quebec public health director Dr. Luc Boileau told reporters on Oct. 7. “Beginning the [vaccination] campaign in October is ideal, because it allows people who are at the highest risk of complications to be protected at the right time.”

Boileau said ministry data indicated that there has been “elevated community spread” of COVID over the past few months; cases of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) “were starting to go around,” and it was expected that flu season would start in a few weeks. He called on people who were experiencing flu-like symptoms to stay home and avoid spreading their illness to more vulnerable people. He pointed out that a negative COVID rapid test did not mean a person wasn’t sick – the test could be a false negative or the person could have another illness.

“If you have a fever, stay home. If you feel well enough to go about your daily busi- ness, wear a mask as long as your symptoms last and don’t visit people who are at risk [of serious complications from COVID or flu].” High-risk groups include seniors 75 and older, babies and young children, people with compromised immune systems and pregnant women.

Boileau added that although rapid tests are no longer recommended for the general population due to their relative unreliability, people at high risk of complications who believe they have COVID should still get tested in a testing centre, so they can start prophylactic treatment.

“Not the same vaccine”

Dr. Nicholas Brousseau is a Quebec City-based public health physician at the Institut national de la santé publique (INSPQ) and a member of the provincial consultative committee on vaccination. “This is not the same COVID vaccine that was available earlier [this year] – it is an updated vaccine targeting the KP.2 variant that will help you be protected in fall and winter,” he explained.

Brousseau said current vaccines are effective for a limited time because the virus keeps changing. However, he said it was too early to tell whether new COVID vaccines would be developed and made available annually like seasonal flu vaccines. “This is still a new virus and it’s changing a lot. We are always getting new variants – we don’t know if it will continue like that or if it will stabilize. There are still a lot of unknowns.”

Vaccination campaign to begin Oct. 16

Boileau said vaccination campaigns for COVID, flu and RSV have already begun in long-term care centres and among high-risk populations. He invited healthy adults at low risk of complications from COVID or flu to book a vaccination appointment online via ClicSanté starting Oct. 16. It is possible to get vaccinated against COVID and flu on the same day. Healthy adults under 75 are not systematically vaccinated against RSV, which main- ly affects seniors and young children. Babies will be able to receive a preventative antibody treatment against RSV as of Nov 4. The flu and COVID vaccines are free; the RSV vaccine and antibody treatment are free to at-risk groups; free and systematic RSV vaccination may eventually be extended to other groups, according to Dr. Caroline Quach-Thanh, head of Quebec’s immunization committee, who spoke alongside Boileau.

People who cannot or don’t want to make an appointment online can book by phone at 1-877-644-4545. The phone line is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends and offers services in both French and English.

Quach-Thanh noted that antibodies take about two weeks to develop after a person is vaccinated. “Since we don’t exactly know when the season of virus transmission is going to start, it’s better to do it early than late.”

“Thank you for considering the option of getting vaccinated,” Boileau said, addressing Quebecers at large at a press conference that was live- streamed on social media. “It can make a difference for you and a lot of people around you as well. Vaccination is free and accessible – there’s no reason not to do it.”

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Whooping Cough Continues to Spread in the North Shore: Health Authorities Urge Vaccination

Maria Diamantis, LJI journalist

Health authorities in the Laurentides region are sounding the alarm as whooping cough, or pertussis, continues to spread rapidly. The Public Health Directorate of the Laurentides Integrated Health and Social Services Center (CISSS) reports a sharp rise in cases over the past few months, with infections surging from 41 reported cases in mid-May to an alarming 1,405 by the end of August.

Children under the age of 10 have been hit hardest by the outbreak, especially over the last two weeks. Since the beginning of the year, 32 cases have also been confirmed in infants under one year old, a particularly vulnerable group.

Whooping cough is a highly contagious bacterial infection spread through droplets when an infected person coughs. Initial symptoms mimic those of a cold, but quickly escalate into severe coughing fits. These bouts of coughing can cause difficulty breathing and are often accompanied by a distinctive high-pitched “whoop” sound. The intense coughing can lead to vomiting and, in some cases, a bluish tinge to the skin due to a lack of oxygen. In infants, who are especially vulnerable, the symptoms can be even more dangerous, with some showing only mild or absent coughs but experiencing serious breathing difficulties, including apnea.

The most at-risk populations include babies under the age of one, who are particularly prone to severe complications that may require hospitalization. Pregnant women who contract the illness in the four weeks leading up to childbirth are also at heightened risk of passing the infection on to their newborns. Health officials stress that vaccination during pregnancy can significantly reduce these risks, preventing up to 90% of hospitalizations and 95% of deaths in infants under three months.

With the school year now underway, the Public Health Directorate is reminding residents of the importance of keeping vaccinations up to date. They are strongly encouraging everyone, especially families with young children, to get vaccinated against whooping cough. By doing so, the spread of this highly infectious disease can be slowed, and the most vulnerable members of the community can be protected.

Vaccinations are available free of charge, and appointments can be made online through Clic Santé or by calling the health service line. Vaccination schedules for children involve multiple doses to ensure long-term protection, starting at 2, 4, and 12 months of age, with boosters required between ages 4 and 6. Pregnant women are advised to receive the vaccine during each pregnancy, ideally between the 26th and 32nd week, to safeguard their newborns until they are old enough to be vaccinated themselves at two months.

Anyone experiencing symptoms of whooping cough, regardless of vaccination status, should contact Info-Santé at 811 or seek medical advice, particularly if they are in close contact with vulnerable groups such as infants or pregnant women. Those diagnosed with the illness are urged to avoid contact with infants and pregnant women nearing their due date to help prevent further transmission.

For more information on whooping cough, how to recognize its symptoms, and ways to prevent its spread, residents are encouraged to visit the Laurentides Public Health website (santelaurentides.gouv.qc.ca).

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Vaccination is the Best Protection: Increase in Whooping Cough Cases in the Laurentians

Vaccination is the Best Protection: Increase in Whooping Cough Cases in the Laurentians

Maria Diamantis-LJI Journalist

The Public Health Department of the Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux (CISSS) of the Laurentians wishes to inform the public about an increase in whooping cough cases in the Laurentian region. The disease is also spreading more in other parts of the province. Since the beginning of the year, 41 cases of whooping cough have been reported to the Laurentians Public Health Department, with the majority affecting young people aged 10 to 19. Five cases have been observed in children under one year old.

What is Whooping Cough?

Whooping cough is a highly contagious disease that can lead to pneumonia. The bacteria are transmitted through nasal and throat secretions, starting with symptoms similar to a cold. This is followed by severe coughing fits, difficulty breathing, and a high-pitched “whoop” sound. Coughing can cause vomiting and a bluish discoloration of the face. In infants, a pause in breathing (apnea) is often the first symptom, and the cough may be mild or absent.

Children under one year are at a higher risk of complications, and most babies under six months will need hospitalization. Although deaths are rare, they occur mainly in infants under three months. Pregnant women infected in the four weeks before delivery have a high risk of transmitting the disease to their babies.

“Whooping cough typically causes outbreaks every 4 to 5 years. The last outbreak was in 2019, with just over 300 cases in the region. An increase in cases is expected in the coming weeks. We want to remind the regional population that vaccination remains the best way to protect against this disease,” explains Dr. Éric Goyer, Director of Public Health of the Laurentians.

Protection and Prevention

Vaccination is the best way to protect your child against whooping cough and prevent complications. A dose of the vaccine should be administered at the ages of 2, 4, and 12 months, as well as between 4 and 6 years. For any questions regarding updating your child’s vaccination record or knowing when to consult a doctor, contact Info-Santé at 811. In case of whooping cough infection, antibiotics can reduce the risk of disease transmission. If symptoms appear, it is important to see a doctor promptly.

It is also recommended that all pregnant women get vaccinated against whooping cough during each pregnancy, between the 26th and 32nd week, to protect their baby from birth. Vaccinating pregnant women can prevent 90% of hospitalizations and 95% of deaths in children under three months old.

Appointments for whooping cough vaccination can be made on Clic Santé. Parents of children aged six and under can also book an appointment by phone at 450-473-6811, extension 44407.

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