Faced with a very active circulation of respiratory viruses, the Dr Luc Boileau, national director of public health, insists: people at risk should be vaccinated. The fall vaccination campaign launched five weeks ago is already showing signs of running out of steam.
“There are still many people who have not come to benefit from this vaccination, so we invite them to do so,” declared the Dr Boileau at a press conference on Wednesday. Public Health mainly targets people aged 60 and over, and in particular those over 70.
The Dr Boileau, however, expects to soon achieve its objective of vaccinating 60 to 70% of residents of CHSLDs and seniors’ residences. “We are reassured that people in vulnerable situations due to their age and living situation are well protected,” he explained on this subject.
Currently, just under 22,000 people are getting vaccinated on average per day, down sharply from the peak of 30,000 seen two weeks ago.
Quebec’s vaccination coverage against COVID-19 remains very low at this time. Only 11.6% of Quebecers have received a dose of vaccine over the last six months. These are mainly people aged 60 and over.
“Very active” traffic
This slowdown in vaccination occurs while the circulation of respiratory viruses continues. After an increase in September and October, COVID-19 has reached a plateau. However, its circulation in the community remains “very active”, specifies the Dr Boileau.
The weight of COVID-19 also continues to be felt in the health network. There are currently 1,657 people hospitalized positive for COVID-19, including only 40 in intensive care. The number of COVID patients has remained at this high level for a month and a half.
Quebec is also recording an average of nine deaths per day due to COVID-19. “The pandemic may be behind us, but the virus continues to circulate,” says the Dr Boileau. The number of cases detected by PCR tests has increased by 9% over the past week. The positivity rate also remains very high at 20.2%.
Other infections under the microscope
However, COVID-19 is not the only one circulating at the moment. Influenza is on the rise in Quebec and we can expect a wave of infections to arrive in Quebec before Christmas, indicated the Dr Boileau.
We are not yet in the flu season, but it will be unavoidable. She’s coming.
Dr Luc Boileau, national director of public health
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is also on the rise, particularly among children. “This wave is rising and is affecting our emergency rooms and our pediatric hospitalizations,” says Dr.r Boileau.
In total, 7.8% of screening tests for respiratory syncytial virus have been positive over the past week. This has been rising steadily for two months. However, it should be noted that the current situation is less worrying than last year.