Interior Health (IH) is reminding parents about the importance of childhood immunizations while making it easier for families to get caught up, as many children are unimmunized or under-immunized.   Interior Health data shows declining immunization rates for children. While the majority of parents believe that childhood vaccines are safe and effective**, there are many reasons for the decrease in rates including concerns or questions sparked by online misinformation, limited time in today’s busy schedules, or simply forgetting.   “Interior Health is taking steps to help busy families get their children’s immunizations up to date,” said IH Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Martin Lavoie. “Vaccines give infants and children the best protection from more than a dozen diseases that can be severe, can lead to serious complications, and in some cases can even be fatal."   As of Dec. 31, 2023, 56.3 per cent of seven-year-olds were immunized, which is well below the IH target of 70 per cent necessary to prevent disease transmission. The rate for two-year-olds is 68.5 per cent, significantly below the 90 per cent target for that age group*.   Taking action To help address these low rates this year, extra clinics for immunization services will be introduced at community health centres; Kindergarten clinics are being piloted in some schools; and mobile immunization services will bring these services to select rural communities. In addition, students in Grade 10 - 12 can drop into clinics at school to get caught up on routine immunizations they have missed and ask public health nurses any questions they may have.   “Many people have questions – that is understandable. As health professionals we are here to help everyone understand potential side effects, vaccine effectiveness, and the consequences of not being vaccinated, and help families make informed decisions,” said IH Medical Health Officer Dr. Fatemeh Sabet.   To increase awareness IH is launching a new campaign that emphasizes the safety and effectiveness of childhood immunizations and the dangers of vaccine-preventable diseases, with testimonials from local health-care professionals and parents.   Routine childhood immunizations are free of charge and easy to get; caregivers can book an appointment at a Child Health Clinic at their local public health centre. If a child has missed a vaccine, public health staff can help get them caught up. To view the schedules for infant, child and teen immunizations, and to see the list of vaccines included in routine immunizations, visit Immunize BC.   Risks of low immunization rates Current immunization rates are concerning because these diseases still occur and can spread easily. For example, measles cases have been reported in four U.S. states, including Washington, in 2024; a person in Alberta who was diagnosed with measles in November 2023 had recently travelled through B.C.; and there is currently a major outbreak of measles in Birmingham, England. Additionally, there have been outbreaks in many African and Asian countries. Over the last six months, B.C. has seen cases of pertussis (whooping cough) in multiple areas of the Interior region, and in Summer 2023 there was a pertussis outbreak in southern Manitoba.   Their best shot Castlegar-based family physician and mom Dr. Erin Charman is happy to be among those featured in the IH awareness campaign. "I thought this was a great chance to share the importance of childhood immunizations and to help parents protect their children," she said.   “I wanted to participate in the childhood immunization campaign because as a parent and community member I witness a lot of misinformation online. I want parents to know where to find accurate information to make an informed decision and know that they can contact public health at any time with their questions or concerns. We’re here to help,” said Kelowna public health nurse Ashley Stone.   To learn more and watch videos from the campaign visit interiorhealth.ca/theirbestshot. Background Health Service Delivery Area immunization rates* 2-year-olds (target 90%): IH-wide: 68.5% East Kootenay: 71.9% Kootenay Boundary: 66.6% Okanagan: 68% Thompson Cariboo Shuswap: 68.7% 7-year-olds (target 70%): IH-wide: 56.3% East Kootenay: 64.7% Kootenay Boundary: 54.8% Okanagan: 53.2% Thompson Cariboo Shuswap: 58.6% Learn more about Health Service Delivery Areas *Immunization coverage data sourced from the Provincial Immunization Registry. **2021 Childhood National Immunization Coverage Survey, Public Health Agency of Canada.

Please see the attached document to learn more about the look, contamination, and risk associated with the current drug alert.

Williams Lake and area residents are advised of temporary changes to emergency department hours at Cariboo Memorial Hospital due to limited physician availability. Emergency department services will be unavailable overnight from 8 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 12 until 6 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 13. Patients can access care at 100 Mile District General Hospital in 100 Mile House or GR Baker Memorial Hospital in Quesnel. During this time, inpatient services will continue as normal at Cariboo Memorial Hospital. People in the community who need life-threatening emergency care (i.e., chest pains, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding) should always call 911 for transport to the nearest available and appropriate facility.  Anyone unsure whether an emergency room visit is warranted can call HealthLink BC at 811, or visit www.HealthLinkBC.ca for non-emergency health information from nurses, dietitians and pharmacists 24 hours a day, seven days per week.    The emergency department in Williams Lake is normally open 24/7.

Merritt and area residents are advised of temporary changes to emergency department hours at Nicola Valley Hospital due to limited physician availability. Emergency services will be unavailable 8 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 12 to 8 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 13. Patients can access care at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops during this time. During this time, all other inpatient services will continue as normal at Nicola Valley Hospital. People in the community who need life-threatening emergency care (i.e., chest pains, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding) should always call 911 for transport to the nearest available and appropriate facility.  Anyone unsure whether an emergency room visit is warranted can call HealthLink BC at 8-1-1, or visit www.HealthLinkBC.ca for non-emergency health information from nurses, dietitians and pharmacists 24 hours a day, seven days per week.  The emergency department in Merritt is normally open 24/7.

Merritt and area residents are advised of temporary changes to emergency department hours at Nicola Valley Hospital due to limited physician availability. Emergency services will be unavailable effective immediately until 8 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 10. Patients can access care at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops during this time. During this time, all other inpatient services will continue as normal at Nicola Valley Hospital. People in the community who need life-threatening emergency care (i.e., chest pains, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding) should always call 911 for transport to the nearest available and appropriate facility.  Anyone unsure whether an emergency room visit is warranted can call HealthLink BC at 8-1-1, or visit www.HealthLinkBC.ca for non-emergency health information from nurses, dietitians and pharmacists 24 hours a day, seven days per week.  The emergency department in Merritt is normally open 24/7.

People are one step closer to accessing enhanced health services as government has approved the business plan for the new BC Cancer centre at Royal Inland Hospital (RIH) in Kamloops. “Approval of the business plan is a critical milestone for this crucial project,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health. “This state-of-the-art cancer centre will benefit patients in Kamloops and the surrounding area by offering the confidence from knowing that we’re building treatment capacity for now and the future.” The five-storey facility will be built on the Westlands site on the RIH campus. There will be space for radiation treatment, radiation-therapy planning, including a CT Simulator, an outpatient ambulatory-care unit, including 10 exam rooms, and two consultation rooms for radiation-therapy services, an additional MRI suite, and patient arrival and check-in areas. The centre will have three linear accelerator vaults. These heavy, concrete structures contain radiation equipment used for cancer-patient treatment. In collaboration with Indigenous partners, there will also be a sacred space for patients, caregivers and staff, with features to support traditional ceremonies. “This is an exciting step forward in our work to bring new treatment options to this region,” said Dr. Kim Chi, executive vice-president and chief medical officer, BC Cancer. “The new BC Cancer centre in Kamloops will increase our capacity to deliver radiation treatment closer to home for the people of Kamloops and surrounding communities for generations to come.” A new 470-stall parkade will also be constructed as a part of the centre. In addition, upgrades to RIH to expand cancer care have also been approved, which includes updating and expanding the pharmacy, and relocation and expansion of the Community Oncology Network clinic from the eighth floor to the main floor with more space and improved access. Cancer care delivered through the clinic includes oral and intravenous cancer treatment, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy and hormonal therapy. The clinic also provides initial consultation and treatment planning with a medical oncologist, supportive care, followup care and patient education. The procurement process is underway. Construction is expected to begin in 2025 and complete in 2028.  The project budget is approximately $359 million, shared between the provincial government, Interior Health and Thompson Regional Hospital District. The new BC Cancer centre is a part of the 10-year B.C. Cancer Action Plan, which outlines actionable steps to better prevent, detect and treat cancers, delivering improved care for people facing cancer now, while preparing for the growing needs of the future. Quotes: Susan Brown, president and CEO, Interior Health – “Delivering expanded, comprehensive cancer care in Kamloops is one of our top priorities for the upcoming years. Heading into the procurement process, and subsequently, construction, we look forward to engaging with local communities, patients, families and Indigenous partners to ensure the delivery of high-quality, culturally safe cancer care for people across the region.” David Byres, president and CEO, Provincial Health Services Authority – “We are excited to reach this important milestone of the approval of the business plan for the new BC Cancer centre in Kamloops. As we move forward with this project, we will engage with our patients, families, Indigenous partners, staff and physicians to ensure that the new cancer centre is designed to support delivery of high-quality, accessible and culturally safe care.” Sarah Roth, president and chief executive officer, BC Cancer Foundation – “The new BC Cancer Centre in Kamloops is essential to bringing care close to home for our loved ones and the BC Cancer Foundation looks forward to partnering with our generous donors to help make this a world-class facility.” Mike O’Reilly, chair, Thompson Regional Hospital District – “We welcome today’s positive progress update toward building a cancer-care centre in Kamloops, recognizing the need for life-saving cancer treatment closer to home for more than 150,000 residents. Along with the addition of vital cancer-care equipment, a new parkade will address a significant need at Royal Inland Hospital that is felt today by visitors and staff. Our board continues to urgently advocate for these projects on behalf of our residents and we look forward to continued progress and ensuring that this cancer-care centre opens in 2028.” Heidi Coleman, CEO, Royal Inland Hospital Foundation –  “This new comprehensive cancer-care centre marks a significant victory for the Thompson Cariboo Shuswap Health Service Area. At the Royal Inland Hospital Foundation, we regularly encounter grateful patients who express their appreciation for their care, yet often recount the challenges of travelling to Kelowna for radiation and other vital cancer treatments. This shall be no more. Like many, we look forward to seeing the realization of this long-awaited dream.”  Quick Facts: As the population grows and ages, the number of people diagnosed with cancer will increase. The growth in incidence of cancer between 2021 and 2041 is estimated to be 33% in the Kamloops area. In B.C., one in two people will be diagnosed with some form of cancer in their life. Learn More: To learn more about B.C.’s 10-year Cancer Action Plan, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2023HLTH0012-000229

Interior Health (IH) has added new community-based supports for policing partners to improve the response for people experiencing mental health and substance use-related crises. These supports include four newly hired outreach liaison clinicians in Cranbrook, Nelson, Williams Lake and Trail.     “When people are experiencing a mental-health emergency and reach out to police, we need to take the right steps to provide them with the care they need to stay safe,” said Jennifer Whiteside, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. “With the creation of outreach liaison teams, more people in crisis will be met with appropriate care, and a clear path to the help they need.”  This new service will see an IH mental health clinician supporting RCMP or Nelson city police to provide community outreach and education. These liaisons will respond to mental health and substance use crises, when appropriate, using de-escalation techniques and harm reduction approaches to provide mental health and substance use resources and support.  “These are health conditions that are stigmatized, complex and distressing to those experiencing them. Our ongoing priority with partners like the RCMP is to enhance mental health and substance use supports across the region to ensure people get the help they need during their most vulnerable moments,” said Interior Health President and CEO Susan Brown. The development of a new community outreach model is the result of partner discussions, a review of the data around demand for service and an examination of current mental health and substance use resources for community crisis response in these communities.  “These specialized outreach liaison teams are the result of the continued efforts being made by Interior Health and RCMP joint committee in taking action on the mental health challenges our communities face by providing a crisis response service and support across the region to ensure that those in crisis get the help they need,” said Chief Superintendent Brad Haugli, BC RCMP Southeast District Commander. The new service will operate eight hours a day, five days a week in each community.  These four communities do not see the same volume of interactions with individuals in crisis as Kamloops, Kelowna, Vernon and Penticton, which have established Mobile Integrated Crisis Response teams. However, IH and policing partners see the opportunity to provide additional supports to ensure people who are in distress are met with compassion and, where appropriate, connected to other health-care services and supports.  Teams in all four communities will work together on training, reporting and program evaluation to ensure consistency across the region.  An IH/RCMP Joint Committee continues to meet and work together looking at services within the Interior to identify additional opportunities for crises response enhancement. IH also has existing Crisis Response Teams available to support community members and existing clients who are experiencing a crisis. These teams are the main contact for RCMP for requests to provide mental health assessments, including suicide risk assessments; substance withdrawal assessments; links to Opioid Agonist Treatment if required; and referrals to community services.  IH has several outreach teams who liaise with police partners on an as-needed basis. These outreach teams include Access, Treatment Support and Recovery (TSR), Assertive Community Treatment (ACT), and Substance Use Outreach.  For more information about mental health and substance use services in IH visit interiorhealth.ca. To reach the Mental Health and Substance Use Centre closest to you and be connected to services, call 310-MHSU. For information about the RCMP Southeast District visit the Royal Canadian Mounted Police webpage.

Seniors in Vernon and the surrounding areas will have more care options as Creekside Landing Community Campus completes an expansion at its long-term care facility in Vernon. “People in Vernon and around B.C. deserve good health care at every stage of life and that’s why we’re providing high-quality long-term care,” said Premier David Eby. “This expansion adds more beds in a comfortable, home-like setting. Seniors deserve to age with dignity by receiving the care they need in the city they know and love. These beds also help take pressure off hospital beds in the community.” Following a competitive procurement process, Interior Health awarded a contract to develop the additional 90 publicly funded long-term care beds at Creekside Landing in Vernon to Kaigo Senior Living in 2022. With the addition of these new beds there is a total of 160 publicly funded long-term care beds at Creekside Landing at 6190 Okanagan Landing Rd. “As people get older, they want to feel assured that they can access the essential-care services they need to stay healthy, active and safe in their community,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health. “That is why our government is expanding long-term care throughout the province, including the Vernon area. By continuously investing in and improving long-term care facilities, we are securing a future where older adults in our province can age with dignity, counting on reliable care near their loved ones.” Since 2008, Creekside Landing has provided a safe home for seniors with dementia, major physical challenges and other health issues. Its expansion is marked by the addition of these crucial beds, enhancing its offerings in long-term care, assisted living and independent-living services. The latest three-storey expansion will have 90 publicly funded and six private beds for long-term care. The expansion incorporates practice-leading design standards, showcasing a contemporary design that creates a warm and compassionate atmosphere. Residents can enjoy a large garden with a bridge over Vernon Creek and secure walkways to enjoy the outdoors and nature. “Long-term care homes are more than just a place to receive care. They are a place for seniors to call home and to age with dignity and comfort,” said Harwinder Sandhu, MLA for Vernon-Monashee and Parliamentary Secretary for Seniors' Services and Long-Term Care. “Every new bed also helps our acute-care system, provides seniors the quality care they need and helps more seniors age in their community, close to their loved ones. As a health-care professional, I have been a long-time advocate for seniors’ services and it’s wonderful to see these new long-term care beds ready to welcome our seniors.” The new facility is targeted to open on Feb. 20, 2024, with admissions scheduled to continue throughout the next two months. Individuals from the community and acute-care hospitals will be admitted during this period. “Interior Health is committed to supporting seniors with the services they rely on as their needs change,” said Diane Shendruk, vice-president, Clinical Operations, Interior Health North. “This is an important investment for individuals in Vernon and the surrounding area who will benefit from the level of support available in care homes like Creekside Landing.” The new addition to the Creekside Landing long-term care home in Vernon is called Osprey Court. It includes the social and recreational spaces found in a typical home, such as a living room, dining room and activity space, and other amenities, such as a library, hair salon, wellness centre and a reflection room. Seniors are supported through a dedicated campus of care, allowing one partner to live independently in the suites while their significant other receives assistance in the long-term care setting. "We are thrilled to partner with Interior Health to provide more access to care for seniors living in and around Vernon,” said Kevin Svoboda, president and CEO, Kaigo Senior Living. “It’s an exciting day to watch seniors moving into these newly available spaces and we look forward to caring for them in their new home.” The inclusion of these long-term care beds in Vernon is part of the government’s investment plan to create a total 495 new long-term care beds within the Interior Health region to meet the needs of the growing seniors’ population. The remaining 405 beds are planned for Kamloops, Kelowna, Nelson and Penticton. Long-term care homes provide care to individuals with complex-care needs, who can no longer live safely and independently at home. Long-term care homes provide 24-hour nursing care delivered by a team of well-trained, compassionate and caring staff. To meet the increasing demand witnessed over the past five years, the government has invested approximately $2 billion to expand and improve quality of care for seniors in British Columbia. This funding includes improvements in primary care, home health, long-term care and assisted living.

People in North Okanagan and Shuswap areas will have improved access to care through a newly established primary-care network (PCN), which will add nearly 75 health-care providers to the region. “I know many people are worried about access to family doctors,” said Premier David Eby. “The work we are doing in Vernon and the broader North Okanagan and Shuswap region to hire dozens of primary health-care providers will mean more people will get better access to the services they need.” The PCN will include nearly 75 new full-time health-care provider positions when fully operational and attach approximately 22,500 people to a health-care provider over the next four years. “We know people in the North Okanagan Shuswap area need increased access to primary health-care services,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health. “By investing in the development of a new primary-care network in Vernon and adding more health-care professionals in the community, we are demonstrating our commitment to connecting more people to health-care services.”  These health-care providers include family doctors, nurse practitioners and registered nurses, as well as allied health professionals, such as clinical pharmacists and social workers, and dedicated resources for Indigenous patients. “I hear from people in the region about the need to take more action to help people access health care,” said Harwinder Sandhu, MLA for Vernon-Monashee and Parliamentary Secretary for Seniors’ Services. “This new primary-care network is great news for our communities. It will help provide better access to care and I look forward to having more health-care workers supporting people in the region.”  The PCN will strengthen team-based care and improve access and attachment to primary-care services, including through virtual health services, a teaching network and extended operating hours for North Okanagan communities. In addition, a team of primary-care and allied health professionals will be recruited to support Indigenous health needs, providing more co-ordinated and culturally safe primary-care services for Indigenous people in the area. For people and families, it means extended access to health-care services during evenings and weekends, and being connected to appropriate services and supports in the community. The  PCN will use the Health Connect Registry to help connect people to primary-care providers within its geography. The network was developed in collaboration with health-care partners through a collaborative services committee with Interior Health, Northern Health, the North Okanagan Division of Family Practice and local Indigenous partners to better meet the specific needs of the communities to include: Creating an integrated system of care that focuses on patients having access to comprehensive primary-care services; Better co-ordinated services for people with chronic health conditions;  Making it easier for patients to access urgent and extended hours of care; and    Ensuring culturally safe care for Indigenous people.  Once fully implemented, the Ministry of Health will provide approximately $12.8 million annually for the PCN. In addition, one-time funding of $1.8 million is also being provided, which includes funding to support the transition of services to a team-based model of care, recruitment and training for providers, and patient engagement, among other things. The PCN is a part of government’s ongoing work to enhance access to health-care services within local communities. It supports B.C.’s Health Human Resources Strategy announced on Sept. 29, 2022, which identifies 70 key actions to recruit, train and retain health-care workers. There are 77 primary-care networks currently and work is underway to establish them in more communities throughout the province over the next two years.   Learn More: To learn more about the Province's primary health-care strategy, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2018PREM0034-001010 To learn more about the Province's strategy to increase the number of nurse practitioners, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2018HLTH0034-000995 To learn more about the Province’s strategy to recruit and retain more family medicine graduates, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2018HLTH0052-001043 Two backgrounders follow.