Influenza and COVID outbreaks in a more vaccine hesitant HN

With the triple threat of COVID, influenza and RSV all either arrived or looming on the horizon in Ontario, Haldimand-Norfolk’s medical officer of health says people need to get serious about health measures – especially planning for the coming vaccines.

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“This is a worrying situation and (COVID, RSV and influenza) can occur concurrently,” said Dr. Malcolm Lock this week.

While the Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit’s monitoring website has reduced the data posted over the summer, it continues to post outbreak information.

This week, there are three confirmed COVID outbreaks in long-term care homes totaling 45 cases – the bulk of them at Cedarwood Village – and 17 early Influenza A cases in two outbreaks. There are another two outbreaks of as-yet-unknown viruses, totaling seven cases.

Lock noted that people can get one or more of COVID, influenza and RSV at the same time.

“So it’s important to acquire protection as early as you can.”

But, it may be one to two months before those vaccines are available in the area.

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Lock said the tricky process involves pinpointing the most current strains in the area, and waiting as Health Canada puts in orders for what experts hope will be the best possible match to deal with those strains.

“Respiratory viruses take in new strains every year so the vaccine mix has to be chosen as late as possible to make sure the vaccine is matching the circulating strain. Right now, Health Canada is estimating the new COVID vaccine will be available in October.”

Regarding both the influenza and the COVID vaccines, Lock said the Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit will be “putting it in as many arms as possible” once they are available.

One problem: Lock said vaccine hesitancy rates have increased in the area thanks to misinformation about COVID in particular.

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“We’re generally seeing lower rates of vaccine uptake and, for all those conditions – influenza, whooping cough, measles, Mpox, COVID and other respiratory viruses – the only real significant immunity we can give is vaccination.

“We’re noticing the community uptake in these vaccinations has really been declining.”

That, predicts Lock, will lead to an increase in the incidence of those diseases and, in some cases, “severe consequences.”

“For example, measles is a significant threat to the life of babies and young children,” he said.

Those who skip the vaccinations may be able to get retroviral or antiviral medications if they contract the coming infections, but those medications aren’t as effective as protection vaccines provide.

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It’s a message repeated by the provincial and federal health teams.

On Tuesday, Minister of Health Sylvia Jones said the province expects influenza vaccinations to begin in early October for those in the high priority category and for the general public by the end of that month.

The newest COVID vaccine – which can be received at the same time as the flu vaccine – is also expected in early October, after it gets Health Canada approval. Again, initial doses will go to high-risk populations first.

Also in October, infants and high-risk children up to 24 months can get the new RSV immunization and there will be options for pregnant women and retirement home residents.

Lock is disturbed by the end of the provincial wastewater program, which gave early warning of the rise of several respiratory viruses.

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“Discontinuing this monitoring and relying on the (less wide-spread) federal Health Canada results deprives us of information at a community level,” he said.

“I feel strongly about this and will be recommending to the board of health that we send a letter to the province to reinstate the program.”

Lock said he and others in public health are fighting against misinformation that’s shared widely on social media platforms.

“If I had a magic wand, I’d like to educate and disperse knowledge. People need at least a superficial understanding of the science and why we make the recommendations we do.”

Meanwhile, Lock said the message remains the same for the best ways of avoiding the various viruses until and after vaccines are available.

“Hand-washing, avoiding touching your nose, eyes and mouth, practicing good respiratory etiquette when you sneeze, cleaning high-touch surfaces at home and at work, staying home if you’re ill and wearing a mask – especially if you have a viruses and are coughing and sneezing.

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