New COVID-19 variant no trigger for parental panic, says B.C. physician, however youngsters want flu shot

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A pediatric infectious illness physician says there’s nothing to counsel that B.C. mother and father sending youngsters again to highschool subsequent week must make huge adjustments in how they handle COVID-19 after a brand new variant was found within the province.

However Dr. David Goldfarb at B.C. Kids’s Hospital says proof from the Southern Hemisphere suggests influenza B, which might have an effect on kids worse than adults, shall be significantly prevalent this yr.

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He says that pressure is well-covered within the annual flu shot and other people ought to get the vaccine for themselves and their kids when it turns into out there, in addition to for COVID.

Goldfarb says there was “unprecedented” strain on the well being system final yr when there was a wave of childhood respiratory diseases, together with influenza and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV.

He’s not anticipating such an intense respiratory sickness season this yr, though it’s nonetheless essential to get the shot.

The B.C. Centre for Illness Management this week detected Canada’s first identified case of latest COVID variant BA.2.86, however Goldfarb says there’s no early proof that it causes extra extreme illness.

The variant of the Omicron pressure has been detected in various international locations world wide and Goldfarb stated medical doctors study rapidly every time there’s a new variant and may modify their steering accordingly.

“Proper now, there’s not something that may counsel mother and father must make any huge adjustments round steering associated to this particular variant,” he stated.

Goldfarb stated he anticipated a brand new COVID shot to be launched quickly, although particulars about who will qualify haven’t been introduced.

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He stated that influenza and RSV have been typically the main viruses inflicting sickness amongst kids throughout the respiratory season, however throughout the pandemic, influenza was “barely seen in any respect” till final season.

Each diseases “very a lot got here again with a vengeance,” he stated

A report printed this week says B.C. skilled solely 11 RSV instances between September 2020 and August 2021. That shot as much as 9,529 instances in 2021-22 and eight,215 instances the subsequent yr.

Goldfarb stated medical doctors in Canada usually take a look at the Southern Hemisphere to get a way of what the respiratory sickness season right here may seem like.

“It’s not an ideal crystal ball, however it does give us some sense of what we might count on. The lucky information is that they didn’t see an enormous surge this previous season that’s simply ending up there in most jurisdictions within the south, for RSV or influenza.”

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