COVID kills New Brunswick child aged 0-4
A New Brunswick child aged 0-4 was killed by COVID-19 between March 9-15, according to government data, and influenza killed two people aged 65 or older and one aged 45-64.
The province doesn't provide any information about COVID and flu victims.
Between March 9-15, 10 people were hospitalized with COVID. No one required intensive care.
The province includes data on the number of tests and lab-confirmed cases, but it isn't accurate because it only counts data collected in hospitals.
Forty-five people were hospitalized for influenza between March 9-15, and two people required intensive care.
There were 11 lab-confirmed flu outbreaks, including seven in nursing homes and four in undisclosed facilities. There was also one outbreak of an influenza-like illness in a school.
Finally, there were 66 confirmed cases of RSV between March 9-15. Three people required hospital treatment.
Some New Brunswickers will soon be able to get a new COVID-19 vaccination, the government announced on Monday, but it doesn't appear the shots will be available to most.
The eligible groups are, according to a government press release, 'people aged 65 or older, adult residents of long-term care homes and other congregate-living settings for seniors,' and 'people six months or older who are moderately to severely immunocompromised due to underlying conditions or treatment.'
The release doesn't explain why the vaccine isn't available to everyone, other than a note saying the province is following 'updated guidance from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization.'
Shots will be available from April 7 to June 30, and will be administered by 'participating pharmacies,' the release read. However for children under 12, the shots will only be available until June 21 because 'vaccine products for this age group are expiring and additional vaccines will not be immediately available.'
'Getting vaccinated is one of the best ways to help protect yourself and your community against the impact of vaccine-preventable diseases and illnesses, including COVID-19,' chief medical health officer Dr. Yves Léger said in the release.
'Vaccines against COVID-19 are very effective at preventing severe disease in the elderly and those who are at higher risk. However, studies show that this protection does drop after many months, which is why getting a spring dose is important for those groups.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Boston Globe
17 minutes ago
- Boston Globe
RFK Jr. names 8 vaccine committee replacements, including COVID shot critic
The new appointees to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices include Dr. Robert Malone, the former mRNA researcher who emerged as a close adviser to Kennedy during the measles outbreak. Malone, who runs a wellness institute and a popular blog, rose to popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic as he relayed conspiracy theories around the outbreak and the vaccines that followed. He has appeared on podcasts and other conservative news outlets where he's promoted unproven and alternative treatments for measles and COVID-19. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up He has claimed that millions of Americans were hypnotized into taking the COVID-19 shots. He's even suggested that those vaccines cause a form of AIDS. He's downplayed deaths related to one of the largest measles outbreaks in the U.S. in years. Advertisement Other appointees include Dr. Martin Kulldorff, a biostatistician and epidemiologist who was a co-author of the Great Barrington Declaration, an October 2020 letter maintaining that pandemic shutdowns were causing irreparable harm. Dr. Cody Meissner, a former ACIP member, also was named. Advertisement Kennedy made the announcement in The committee, created in 1964, makes recommendations to the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC directors almost always approve those recommendations on how Food and Drug Administration-cleared vaccines should be used. The CDC's final recommendations are widely heeded by doctors and determine the scope of vaccination programs. Associated Press reporter Amanda Seitz contributed to this report.
Chicago Tribune
17 minutes ago
- Chicago Tribune
RFK Jr. names 8 vaccine committee replacements, including COVID shot critic
NEW YORK — U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Wednesday named eight new vaccine policy advisers to replace the panel that he abruptly dismissed earlier this week. They include a scientist who researched mRNA vaccine technology and transformed into a conservative darling for his criticisms of COVID-19 vaccines, and a leading critic of pandemic-era lockdowns. Kennedy's decision to 'retire' the previous 17-member panel was widely decried by doctors' groups and public health organizations, who feared the advisers would be replaced by a group aligned with Kennedy's desire to reassess — and possibly end — longstanding vaccination recommendations. The new appointees to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices include Dr. Robert Malone, the former mRNA researcher who emerged as a close adviser to Kennedy during the measles outbreak. Malone, who runs a wellness institute and a popular blog, rose to popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic as he relayed conspiracy theories around the outbreak and the vaccines that followed. He has appeared on podcasts and other conservative news outlets where he's promoted unproven and alternative treatments for measles and COVID-19. He has claimed that millions of Americans were hypnotized into taking the COVID-19 shots. He's even suggested that those vaccines cause a form of AIDS. He's downplayed deaths related to one of the largest measles outbreaks in the U.S. in years. Other appointees include Dr. Martin Kulldorff, a biostatistician and epidemiologist who was a co-author of the Great Barrington Declaration, an October 2020 letter maintaining that pandemic shutdowns were causing irreparable harm. Dr. Cody Meissner, a former ACIP member, also was named. Kennedy made the announcement in a social media post on Wednesday. The committee, created in 1964, makes recommendations to the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC directors almost always approve those recommendations on how Food and Drug Administration-cleared vaccines should be used. The CDC's final recommendations are widely heeded by doctors and determine the scope of vaccination programs.
Yahoo
18 minutes ago
- Yahoo
This Alarming COVID Symptom Is Everywhere With The Latest Variant. We Asked Experts What You Need To Know.
A positive COVID-19 test result is not something that anyone wants to see — but now there may be an extra reason to avoid getting sick. COVID infections cause miserable symptoms such as fever, fatigue, congestion and more. Now, though, some people infected with COVID in China are reporting a very sore throat that's been nicknamed 'razor blade throat.' According to Google trends data, people throughout the U.S. are now, too, worried about this scary-sounding symptom and are searching for things like 'new covid variant painful symptom' and 'covid razor throat.' Just how worried do you need to be about a super-painful sore throat during a COVID infection? Below, doctors weigh in on the supposed 'razor blade' sore throat symptom: Some people with COVID are reporting a 'razor blade throat,' but you don't need to panic. It's nothing new. Related: I Was Widowed At 29. Then An Unexpected Phone Call Led Me To Discover My Husband's Affairs. 'In the past, as new variants have come on the scene, there almost invariably have been questions about distinctive symptoms, and after a while, when you gather a lot of data, turns out not to be the case — all of these symptoms have occurred before,' said Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of preventive medicine in the department of health policy at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee. Meaning, the circulating COVID variants tend to produce the same sort of symptoms and disease as the ones from years ago, Schaffner added. 'Although the more recent variants, these omicron variants, are less severe,' he said. A very sore throat isn't specific to the circulating COVID variants, said Dr. Carrie Horn, the chief medical officer and chief of the division of hospital and internal medicine at National Jewish Health in Colorado. Instead, it's a symptom that has been associated with COVID infections for a while, Horn said. Schaffner had not heard of the 'razor blade' sore throat symptom particularly, but has heard of people having a severe sore throat with COVID infections. While some people can have a very sore throat that could be described as razor-like, it doesn't mean it's going to happen to everyone — and it also isn't some new, scary symptom that is associated with new COVID infections. There is not one outstanding COVID symptom that marks an infection, said Dr. Mark Burns, an infectious disease expert at UofL Health in Louisville, Kentucky. 'A sore throat is a symptom of this, but also fever and cough and fatigue, these are all symptoms as well,' Burns added. 'To sum it all up, the symptoms, including sore throat, are really no different. There's no increased intensity based on sore throat or anything like that,' added Burns. Here's how you can protect yourself from a COVID infection: Related: "People Are Creepy, And I'm Paranoid": 23 Safety Tips And Tricks Women Who Live Alone Do To Feel Safe And At Ease COVID tends to surge twice a year — once in the winter and once in the mid-to-late summer, Schaffner said. 'And so there has been a longstanding recommendation by the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices that people who are at increased risk of getting severe COVID should actually get two COVID vaccinations a year. Obviously, one in the fall to prevent the winter increase, but another right now in order to help prevent serious disease during the late summer and early fall,' Schaffner said. This goes for people 65 and older, younger people with underlying chronic medical conditions and pregnant people, he said. 'The recommendation is take special precautions and get that extra dose, because if we get infected ... we get that extra protection and to help keep us out of the hospital,' Schaffner said. Wearing a mask in indoor spaces, social distancing, washing your hands often and increasing ventilation when possible are more ways to protect yourself from COVID and other respiratory viruses, too, said Burns. If you do get sick, there are treatments available. If you have any COVID symptoms, such as sore throat, fatigue, cough or fever, take a test to see if you have COVID. If you are infected, get in touch with your doctor, particularly if you're high-risk as there are treatments available, said Schaffner. It's important that you talk to your primary care provider as the guidance will vary depending on your age, underlying conditions and other risk factors. COVID is a miserable infection, Horn added. 'Over-the-counter meds help — Ibuprofen alternating with Tylenol, if you're able to take those ... there's no reason to be miserable,' Horn said. 'So, take the medicine that you are able to take to help,' she said. It's also important to stay hydrated when you're sick even if you do have a painful sore throat. A sore throat can make hydration feel like more of a chore, but it's important to drink water and herbal teas as dehydration can further irritate the dry membranes in your throat, Horn said. 'If you are sick, it's best to keep your germs to yourself,' said Horn. This means canceling the dinner plans, not going to the party and calling out of work if you can — if you can't, wearing a tight-fitting mask is key, Horn added. 'Preventing transmission is the biggest thing that we can do to help keep everybody healthy,' Horn article originally appeared on HuffPost. Also in Goodful: "It's Nice To Feel Wanted": Guys Are Sharing The Small Gestures Women Do That Make Them Weak At The Knees Also in Goodful: "I Can't Wait For This To Go Out Of Style": People Are Sharing Popular Modern Trends That Are Actually Pretty Toxic Also in Goodful: I Was Devastated When The Love Of My Life Died. Then I Started Seeing Signs I Couldn't Explain.
