Health

Chief Public Health Officer Theresa Tam listens to a question during a news conference Tuesday January 5, 2021 in Ottawa. Canada’s chief public health officer says she is preparing for “worst case scenario” COVID-19 variants, as early signs show a fall resurgence of the virus. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Officials eyeing COVID-19 variant evolution as early signs point to fall resurgence

Tam says there has been slight uptick recently in people opting to get booster shots

Chief Public Health Officer Theresa Tam listens to a question during a news conference Tuesday January 5, 2021 in Ottawa. Canada’s chief public health officer says she is preparing for “worst case scenario” COVID-19 variants, as early signs show a fall resurgence of the virus. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
British Columbia’s provincial flag flies on a flag pole in Ottawa, Friday July 3, 2020. The bargaining unit representing care aides, lab assistants and cleaning staff has reached a new labour agreement with health employers in B.C. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

B.C. care aides, lab assistants, health facility cleaners reach new labour deal

Hospital Employees’ Union represents about 93 per cent of the workers covered by the agreement

British Columbia’s provincial flag flies on a flag pole in Ottawa, Friday July 3, 2020. The bargaining unit representing care aides, lab assistants and cleaning staff has reached a new labour agreement with health employers in B.C. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
(Black Press Media Creative)

B.C. pharmacists welcome new prescription powers, but eye administrative burden

Starting Oct. 14, B.C. pharmacists will be able to administer more vaccines and renew prescriptions

(Black Press Media Creative)
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry presents the latest information on COVID-19 and influenza in a briefing on Sept. 28. (The Canadian Press/screenshot)

VIDEO: B.C. prepares for flu and COVID-19 this fall

Province expecting worse influenza season than seen in past 2 pandemic years

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry presents the latest information on COVID-19 and influenza in a briefing on Sept. 28. (The Canadian Press/screenshot)
Gavel (Courtesy photo)

Parliament passes law allowing jurors to disclose information to health providers

Criminal Code will be amended in cases of medical or psychiatric treatment, therapy or counselling

Gavel (Courtesy photo)
In this Feb. 9, 2018, file photo, a radiology technician looks at a chest X-ray of a child suffering from flu symptoms. Radiologists in B.C.. say hundreds of thousands of patients are waiting for medical imaging. (AP Photo/David Goldman, File)

‘Hundreds of thousands’ waiting for medical imaging in B.C., radiologists say

Delays could cause ‘tsunami of cancer cases,’ radiological society warns in letter to Dix

In this Feb. 9, 2018, file photo, a radiology technician looks at a chest X-ray of a child suffering from flu symptoms. Radiologists in B.C.. say hundreds of thousands of patients are waiting for medical imaging. (AP Photo/David Goldman, File)
Gibson, a rescue from Afghanistan, is photographed at No Dogs Left Behind in Toronto on Wednesday, June 29, 2022. Federal authorities are set to close Canada’s borders Wednesday to commercial dogs, including ones being put up for sale or adoption, from more than 100 countries deemed to be at high risk for canine rabies. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Tijana Martin

Canada to close borders to dogs from more than 100 countries over rabies concerns

Canada currently has no active cases of dog rabies

Gibson, a rescue from Afghanistan, is photographed at No Dogs Left Behind in Toronto on Wednesday, June 29, 2022. Federal authorities are set to close Canada’s borders Wednesday to commercial dogs, including ones being put up for sale or adoption, from more than 100 countries deemed to be at high risk for canine rabies. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Tijana Martin
(Black Press Media Creative)

Biden suggests nutrition labels on front of food products to improve health

On Sept. 27, the White House announced that the FDA will look…

(Black Press Media Creative)
Island Health and pharmacies across Vancouver Island are preparing for the upcoming flu season. (Photo courtesy of Island Health)

B.C. experts predicting bad flu season as people drop masks, return to travel

Estimated 12,200 Canadians hospitalized with flu annually during pre-pandemic years

Island Health and pharmacies across Vancouver Island are preparing for the upcoming flu season. (Photo courtesy of Island Health)
A Vancouver Police Department patch is seen on an officer’s uniform at a call in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, B.C., Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021. A spokesman for Vancouver Police says a criminal investigation is underway after an allegedly knife-wielding patient chased a doctor at BC Women’s Hospital and tried to access a locked nursery as staff hid to protect themselves. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Knife-wielding patient arrested at B.C. hospital after staff hid on ward: police

Woman was treated at the hospital for a minor injury to her lower body

A Vancouver Police Department patch is seen on an officer’s uniform at a call in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, B.C., Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021. A spokesman for Vancouver Police says a criminal investigation is underway after an allegedly knife-wielding patient chased a doctor at BC Women’s Hospital and tried to access a locked nursery as staff hid to protect themselves. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
The trauma bay is photographed during simulation training at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto on Tuesday, August 13, 2019. In B.C. Specialists ranging from cardiologists, pediatricians and orthopedic surgeons are pushing the British Columbia government to alleviate backlogs that have exacerbated wait times. It comes as the head of the Canadian Medical Association says it's time for innovative solutions to address the same problem across the country.THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Tijana Martin

Specialists join forces to push B.C. for same recognition as family doctors

‘Patients are getting sicker and dying on our wait-lists’

The trauma bay is photographed during simulation training at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto on Tuesday, August 13, 2019. In B.C. Specialists ranging from cardiologists, pediatricians and orthopedic surgeons are pushing the British Columbia government to alleviate backlogs that have exacerbated wait times. It comes as the head of the Canadian Medical Association says it's time for innovative solutions to address the same problem across the country.THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Tijana Martin
Calgary resident Sarah Olson is seen in an undated handout photo. Olson, a kindergarten teacher, hopes the findings of a study linking long COVID to autoimmune disease will lead to treatment for people like her, so they no longer have to struggle with debilitating symptoms. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Sarah Olson

Canadian study builds on link between long COVID and autoimmune diseases

Abnormal antibodies known to cause autoimmune disease, persisted in patients a year after infection

Calgary resident Sarah Olson is seen in an undated handout photo. Olson, a kindergarten teacher, hopes the findings of a study linking long COVID to autoimmune disease will lead to treatment for people like her, so they no longer have to struggle with debilitating symptoms. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Sarah Olson
Dr. Katharine Smart is shown in an undated handout photo. As Canadian health-care systems buckle under the weight of doctor shortages, the past president of the Canadian Medical Association is calling for a national licensing pathway for doctors — and some provinces are on board.THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Canadian Medical Association, *MANDATORY CREDIT

Calls grow to streamline licensing for doctors as health-care systems struggle

As Canadian health-care systems buckle under the weight of doctor shortages, the…

Dr. Katharine Smart is shown in an undated handout photo. As Canadian health-care systems buckle under the weight of doctor shortages, the past president of the Canadian Medical Association is calling for a national licensing pathway for doctors — and some provinces are on board.THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Canadian Medical Association, *MANDATORY CREDIT
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO) delivers a speech after his reelection, at the European headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, on May 24, 2022. While the head of the World Health Organization says the end of the COVID-19 pandemic is “in sight,” some Canadian experts warn it would be premature to declare the global health crisis over.Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP

Deaths are declining, but the pandemic isn’t over yet, experts warn

World Health Organization says the end of the COVID-19 pandemic is ‘in sight’

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO) delivers a speech after his reelection, at the European headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, on May 24, 2022. While the head of the World Health Organization says the end of the COVID-19 pandemic is “in sight,” some Canadian experts warn it would be premature to declare the global health crisis over.Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry speaks during a COVID-19 update at the legislature in Victoria, B.C., on Thursday, March 10, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

Don’t blame schools for high COVID rates among B.C. youth: provincial health officer

Bonnie Henry study’s findings similar to those in other jurisdictions

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry speaks during a COVID-19 update at the legislature in Victoria, B.C., on Thursday, March 10, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
Local governments are asking Victoria to give them a share of a recent settlement with a drug company. (Black Press file photo)

B.C. communities want a slice of $150 million Purdue Pharma Canada settlement

UBCM delegates say drug crisis is chewing up more local resources than they have

Local governments are asking Victoria to give them a share of a recent settlement with a drug company. (Black Press file photo)
The Union of B.C. Municipalities wants B.C.’s hospitals, emergency rooms, and ambulance services are open and available to 24 hours a day. Josh Berson photo

Communities make plea for urgent action to address B.C.’s emergency care crisis

UBCM delegates pass special resolution calling for more government support as ERs face closures

The Union of B.C. Municipalities wants B.C.’s hospitals, emergency rooms, and ambulance services are open and available to 24 hours a day. Josh Berson photo
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry speaks in the press theatre at the British Columbia legislature in Victoria, Thursday, March 10, 2022. A study co-authored by Henry suggests at least 70 to 80 per cent of children and youth in Greater Vancouver and the Fraser Valley have been infected with COVID-19, and most cases are associated with the highly infectious Omicron variant. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

Study co-authored by B.C.’s top doctor says 80% of kids have had COVID-19

Report focused on youth in Greater Vancouver and the Fraser Valley

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry speaks in the press theatre at the British Columbia legislature in Victoria, Thursday, March 10, 2022. A study co-authored by Henry suggests at least 70 to 80 per cent of children and youth in Greater Vancouver and the Fraser Valley have been infected with COVID-19, and most cases are associated with the highly infectious Omicron variant. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
Syringes and vials of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine are seen on a work surface during a drive through clinic at St. Lawrence College in Kingston, Ont., Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021. Health Canada approved Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine today for use in young children six months to four years old. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Lars Hagberg

Health Canada approves Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for kids six months to four years old

Vaccine is the second to be approved for that age group in Canada

Syringes and vials of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine are seen on a work surface during a drive through clinic at St. Lawrence College in Kingston, Ont., Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021. Health Canada approved Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine today for use in young children six months to four years old. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Lars Hagberg
A doctor examines a patient with a stethoscope. In B.C. more than a quarter of adults don’t have a family physician. Those who do have one say it’s hard to get in. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Thomas Kienzle0

More than 60% of B.C. adults have no family doctor or poor access to one: poll

Of those who do have a family doctor, just 7% say they have easy access to them

A doctor examines a patient with a stethoscope. In B.C. more than a quarter of adults don’t have a family physician. Those who do have one say it’s hard to get in. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Thomas Kienzle0