Record numbers of people in British Columbia are being vaccinated against COVID-19 and flu, as the province ramps up its immunization campaign for respiratory illness season.
The health ministry said in a news release that B.C. pharmacies administered almost 82,000 vaccinations on Oct. 15 alone.
It says that was a record for a single day, with about 50,000 shots for flu and about 32,000 for COVID-19 dispensed.
The ministry says updated vaccines for both influenza and COVID-19 are on offer, including new mRNA vaccines for the KP.2 COVID variant.
The ministry says it began sending invitations for priority populations to update their immunizations on Oct. 8, and the record was set on the first day of delivery.
The first week of the campaign also set a record, with almost 370,000 vaccines administered.
The new figures were announced by Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry, who said in the release that respiratory illness season is a time to remember “healthy habits,” including covering coughs, washing hands, avoiding others if you have a cough or fever, and wearing a mask if you have lasting symptoms or need more protection.
The ministry says the National Advisory Committee on Immunization recommends people get the updated COVID-19 vaccine this fall, or six months after their most recent COVID-19 vaccine or infection, whichever is later.