Young kids at higher risk from this year's flu strain, parents urged to get them vaccinated: B.C. health officials

After two years of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, young children and other vulnerable people are at higher risk of getting very sick from the flu this season, B.C. health officials warned Monday.

“A large number of children haven’t been exposed to a flu virus in the past few years” because of COVID public health and travel restrictions, and a small proportion of them are getting very ill, said provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry.

She said this year’s flu strain — influenza A, or H3N2 — has been tough on younger kids, sometimes leading to secondary infections that cause serious complications and, in rare cases, “tragic outcomes.”

In recent days, at least two B.C. families have lost their young girls, age six and nine, to complications from the flu. (Community fundraisers have been set up for both the Cabana and Loseth families as they deal with their losses.)

Health Minister Adrian Dix said B.C. is on track for a record year for influenza vaccinations, but the numbers “could be higher, and should be higher.”

Roughly 20 per cent of kids age six months to 11 years of age have gotten a flu shot this year, while about 15 per cent of youth up to age 17 are vaccinated. Overall, about 1.5 million shots have been administered in the province, using up about 70 per cent of the available flu vaccine stock, said Dr. Penny Ballem of Immunize B.C.

Though those numbers are higher than in past years, parents of younger kids are especially encouraged to get them vaccinated because they’re most at risk of severe illness.

Ballem said this weekend is especially important for parents hoping to protect their children from flu because it means the protections from the vaccine will be in place for holiday festivities.

That’s why health clinics, family doctors and pharmacies are conducting a “blitz” from Friday through Sunday, offering longer hours and more resources to allow as many parents as possible to bring their kids to get vaccinated. Ballem said regional clinics have been set up to be kid-friendly and nasal spray vaccines are available for those who have issues with needles.

While more than 50 per cent of seniors over 65 have been vaccinated, Ballem said kids are their key concern this year.

“Our callout today is to all children and youth, and particularly the small ones, to make the extra effort to get vaccinated,” said Ballem.

There are many ways to do so: about 2,000 family doctors have a supply of flu vaccine, hundreds of pharmacies can provide shots, and about 140 regional immunization clinics have been set up that have thousands of appointments available.

Parents are encouraged to register themselves and their children at the Get Vaccinated website. Within hours, they should get an invitation to book an appointment at a clinic or pharmacy near them.

Of course, influenza is only part of the equation this respiratory-virus season. Kids are also being affected by the respiratory syncytial virus, known as RSV. And nearly three years into the pandemic, COVID-19 is still circulating, including among children.

Henry said RSV has been treated in some children in B.C. but that the numbers are not as high as in some other parts of Canada.

Dix has hinted in the past that postponing non-urgent surgeries is an option to make room for treating those with acute respiratory infections, but said that step hasn’t been needed yet.

Monday’s full press conference can be watched here:

1. Inside a packed B.C. Children's Hospital: How kids, parents and staff are coping amidst virus surge

2. B.C. ready to cancel non-urgent surgeries as respiratory cases flood overcrowded hospitals

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