After several calls for vaccination against influenza, the Quebec government has reached its targets. According to the latest available data, 87% of CHSLD residents have been vaccinated, which exceeds the objective, set at 70%. In private residences for seniors (RPA), the 60% milestone has been reached: the vaccination rate reaches 73%. As for those aged 70 and over living at home, 60% of them extended their arm, as Quebec wanted. The national director of public health, Dr Luc Boileau is delighted, especially since the flu season is still in full swing.
The influenza positivity rate reached 20% at the end of December. It currently stands at 18%. “Influenza is still circulating significantly,” says Dr.r Boileau, in an interview with Duty. We are monitoring the situation closely, but we are not worried about an increase that could be dramatic for us. »
Fewer people with the flu are showing up in emergency rooms and needing to be hospitalized compared to the beginning of the year, when stretcher occupancy rates reached record highs. “At the very beginning of January, we had more than 1,500 people diagnosed [qui recevaient un diagnostic d’influenza à l’urgence] in the week, specifies the Dr Boileau. We had around 250 who we kept in hospital. If we look at the past week, we are below 1,000 diagnoses for influenza, and for hospitalizations, we are at around a hundred. »
Good news, the influenza vaccine administered this year would be effective. “The data from Alberta shows an effectiveness rate greater than 60%, and we anticipate that our data in Quebec will be as good, if not perhaps better,” says the national director of public health.
As for COVID-19, the Dr Boileau paints a “very reassuring evolving portrait”. The positivity rate went from 25% the week of December 10 to 7% the week of February 11. The JN.1 sub-variant took precedence over all others. It now represents nearly 96% of cases. “We do not have any other sub-variants at the moment which are a source of concern,” he said.
According to the Dr Boileau, the significant spread of COVID-19 in the fall explains the lower vaccination rates against this virus among seniors compared to those against influenza (78% in CHSLDs, 70% in RPA and 57% among those aged 70 and over at home).
Improvement in emergencies
Emergency rooms remain busy due to respiratory viruses. But the situation has “overall” improved in the last month, according to the DD Judy Morris, president of the Association of Emergency Physicians of Quebec. According to the Index Santé website, the average stretcher occupancy rate in Quebec hospitals was 115% Thursday morning and 124% in the afternoon. However, it often exceeded 130% in January.
“But there are still sites where it is really difficult,” specifies the DD Morris. We see 160%, 180%, 200%. » For example, on Thursday afternoon, the occupancy rate was 175% at the Saint-Eustache hospital, 181% at the Anna-Laberge hospital in Châteauguay, and 206% at the Royal hospital. Victoria, in Montreal, according to Health Index.
According to the DD Morris, the “closer monitoring” carried out with health establishments to reduce pressure on emergencies is starting to take effect. The Minister of Health, Christian Dubé, has given the mandate to the new access coordinator, Michel Delamarre, to implement the recommendations made — last year — by the emergency crisis unit. “We see that the mentality is changing a little, to recognize that it is not because it overflows into emergencies that the rest of the system must wash its hands of it,” indicates the DD Morris.
Directors of “hospital fluidity” have been appointed in all health establishments, according to the Dr Gilbert Boucher, president of the Association of Emergency Medicine Specialists and member of the government crisis unit. “Michel Delamarre works a lot with hospital CEOs,” says the doctor who is part of the Santé Québec transition committee. This is the first year that we are really directly calling on the CEOs of the establishments. »