COVID-19 and flu vaccines available for seniors in CHSLDs & RPAs Oct. 2, general population Oct. 10

COVID-19 boosters and flu shots will available as of Oct. 2 for seniors in public long-term homes (CHSLDS) and private long-terms residences (RPAs) – then available for the general population as of Oct. 10.

“These people are most at risk and must be prioritized,” said Dr. Luc Boileau, Quebec Public Health director at a press conference in Montreal on Thursday, joined by Dr. Caroline Quach-Thanh, a pediatric infectious diseases specialist at the CHU Sainte-Justine and president of Quebec’s immunization committee (CIQ).

“We’re not in crisis, but respiratory viruses are back and we need to remain prudent,” Dr. Boileau said.

With the start of school and people once again congregating in indoor spaces, cases are rising.

Over the past week, 4,090 new cases have been detected by PCR tests. There are currently 1,314 people hospitalized with COVID-19. Those in intensive care stands at 27 people.

“Starting today, people can begin making their appointments,” said Dr. Boileau, insisting that those most vulnerable make it a priority.

The vaccines will be offered free of charge, and appointments can be made now on CLIC Santé or by calling 1-877-644-4545.

“People with chronic illnesses, auto-immune disease, pregnant women, parents of young children who aren’t able to be vaccinated yet, and people over 60 should get their vaccine,” he said.

Vaccination and screening centres, as well as local pharmacies, will be offering the new boosters better tailored to the currently-circulating Omicron subvariants.

Earlier this week, Health Minister Christian Dubé said while the province is seeing an increase in people hospitalized with COVID-19, “the good news” is that intensive care cases remain stable.

In September, Health Canada authorized a new version of Moderna’s Spikevax vaccine against COVID-19. This new vaccine targets the Omicron XBB.1.5 sub-variant that emerged in early 2023.

Quebec’s National Advisory Committee on Immunization recommends that this new vaccine dose be obtained six months after the last COVID-19 inoculation or infection.

Vaccination and screening tests will be available at 150 points of service in Quebec, including pharmacies.

Recommended to wear a mask if you have symptoms

The vaccination campaign comes as mask mandates are being reintroduced in some health care settings.

Dr. Boileau reminding Quebecers that if you have symptoms of COVID-19 or other viruses, do use masks and wash your hands – and stay home.

Last week, the health authority in Quebec’s Eastern Townships, the CIUSSS de l’Estrie-CHUS, reintroduced the measure for staff and visitors in hospitals, CLSCs and long-term care homes.

The McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) also bringing back mandatory masks for health workers – at all their hospitals – on Sept. 15.

For patients, masks are mandatory if the person has symptoms of respiratory infection and on units with a COVID-19 outbreak when a healthcare worker is within two metres. They also recommend patients at risk for complications from COVID-19 wear a mask.

“Given the recent important rise in the number of respiratory infections, including COVID-19, in both the community and within the MUHC, we have reassessed the need for universal masking. We now require, healthcare workers to wear masks when providing direct care to patients and when interacting with other healthcare workers while present in clinical care areas,” the statement reads.

Masking for visitors is also strongly recommended when visiting hospitalized patients – except for Montreal Children’s Hospital, with parents who have already been exposed to their sick kids.

“Visitors with infectious symptoms should postpone their visit until they are fully recovered, unless essential. If that is the case, the visitor should wear a mask at all times,” the statement adds.