Elias Pettersson Posted April 13 Share Posted April 13 (edited) B.C. lifts health-care mask rules as province emerges from pandemic | Vancouver Sun B.C. lifts health-care mask rules as province emerges from pandemic, Dr. Bonnie Henry says Henry says the lifting of mask requirements does not mean such restrictions won't return in the fall, as experts are still studying the seasonality of COVID. B.C. health officials are ending mask mandates in health-care settings and proof of vaccination for visitors to care homes as the COVID-19 pandemic loses steam after three long, gruelling years. There will be no restrictions on visitors to long-term care, assisted living or health-care facilities, effective immediately. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix announced the scaling back of restrictions in a joint statement Thursday, the same day weekly COVID numbers for B.C. are released. Cases, hospitalizations and deaths linked to COVID-19 have been mostly stable in recent months, and the toll of other respiratory viruses such as flu and RSV is on the wane after a “challenging” fall and winter season that put a continued strain on B.C.’s health-care system and workers, said Henry. “The COVID-19 pandemic has been a challenging time for everyone, and the people of British Columbia have shown incredible resilience and dedication in their efforts to combat the virus,” said the statement. While most restrictions are lifted, Henry says health-care workers are still required to be fully vaccinated. And masks may be required in high-risk situations where a patient is vulnerable to infectious diseases. She also said some of the restrictions ending this spring might be put back in place in the fall if there’s a rebound in COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations or deaths, noting experts are still studying the seasonality of the novel coronavirus. “At this time, we have seen a decrease in all respiratory viruses, which allows us to move forward with confidence in removing some of the measures that were in place,” she said. “It’s important to recognize that COVID-19 is still with us, and as such, we must remain vigilant and continue surveillance to monitor the situation. In the weekly COVID data, another 21 deaths were registered in the week March 26 to April 1 among people who tested positive for the virus in the 30 days before they died; 282 people were in hospital on Thursday, with 21 of those in critical care. The dashboard that has tracked COVID numbers in B.C. since the start of the pandemic will stop being updated in two weeks, and will go dark altogether in early May. Data on COVID and other viral infections will continue to be available at the B.C. Centre for Disease Control’s respiratory diseases site. Vaccines and boosters still available Starting this week, a spring booster vaccine will be available to those over 80 and the immune compromised. A booster is not recommended for the general public, and no decision has been made on routine COVID-19 vaccinations in the province going forward, said Henry. However, an initial vaccination series or a booster dose is still recommended for anyone not fully immunized or boosted against COVID-19. Edited April 13 by Elias Pettersson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elias Pettersson Posted April 13 Share Posted April 13 So, a booster shot is no longer recommended for the general public, yet we were told that we would need to take one every 6 months. A booster shot loses all of its effectiveness after around 6 months. So, in effect Dr. Henry is saying that we no longer need to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Bivalent COVID Boosters: Here's How Long Immunity Lasts (verywellhealth.com) According to that study—which was published in the New England Journal of Medicine—the bivalent vaccine provided protection for at least a month. It also triggered a higher binding antibody response against other COVID variants, including alpha, beta, gamma, and delta.4 However, considering that study was only over a month, other experts believe that immunity from the updated shots will likely last much longer. Previous data that included other bivalent COVID vaccines found they could provide immunity and protection for up to six months. Is this a joke? Whatever shots you got in 2021 and 2022 no longer matter. They won't protect you any longer. They wore off months and years ago. And now we no longer need to take any more shots. I find this incredible. It feels like we were suckered into something... Thank God I take my vitamin C and vitamin D daily. That has helped me to be protected against COVID as well as many other illnesses IMO. I have not even had a runny nose in over 3 years... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Boudrias Posted April 13 Popular Post Share Posted April 13 2 hours ago, Elias Pettersson said: So, a booster shot is no longer recommended for the general public, yet we were told that we would need to take one every 6 months. A booster shot loses all of its effectiveness after around 6 months. So, in effect Dr. Henry is saying that we no longer need to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Bivalent COVID Boosters: Here's How Long Immunity Lasts (verywellhealth.com) According to that study—which was published in the New England Journal of Medicine—the bivalent vaccine provided protection for at least a month. It also triggered a higher binding antibody response against other COVID variants, including alpha, beta, gamma, and delta.4 However, considering that study was only over a month, other experts believe that immunity from the updated shots will likely last much longer. Previous data that included other bivalent COVID vaccines found they could provide immunity and protection for up to six months. Is this a joke? Whatever shots you got in 2021 and 2022 no longer matter. They won't protect you any longer. They wore off months and years ago. And now we no longer need to take any more shots. I find this incredible. It feels like we were suckered into something... Thank God I take my vitamin C and vitamin D daily. That has helped me to be protected against COVID as well as many other illnesses IMO. I have not even had a runny nose in over 3 years... Cool it. Your starting to sound like a trucker. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RUPERTKBD Posted April 13 Share Posted April 13 3 hours ago, Elias Pettersson said: So, a booster shot is no longer recommended for the general public, yet we were told that we would need to take one every 6 months. A booster shot loses all of its effectiveness after around 6 months. So, in effect Dr. Henry is saying that we no longer need to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Bivalent COVID Boosters: Here's How Long Immunity Lasts (verywellhealth.com) According to that study—which was published in the New England Journal of Medicine—the bivalent vaccine provided protection for at least a month. It also triggered a higher binding antibody response against other COVID variants, including alpha, beta, gamma, and delta.4 However, considering that study was only over a month, other experts believe that immunity from the updated shots will likely last much longer. Previous data that included other bivalent COVID vaccines found they could provide immunity and protection for up to six months. Is this a joke? Whatever shots you got in 2021 and 2022 no longer matter. They won't protect you any longer. They wore off months and years ago. And now we no longer need to take any more shots. I find this incredible. It feels like we were suckered into something... Thank God I take my vitamin C and vitamin D daily. That has helped me to be protected against COVID as well as many other illnesses IMO. I have not even had a runny nose in over 3 years... Suckered into what, exactly? What's the endgame for the government providing vaccination services at no cost to the public? You should take @Boudrias advice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elias Pettersson Posted April 13 Share Posted April 13 2 minutes ago, RUPERTKBD said: Suckered into what, exactly? What's the endgame for the government providing vaccination services at no cost to the public? You should take @Boudrias advice. They told us that we need to take a booster every 6 months. Now they are telling us that we don't need to do that anymore. Why is it? Can you explain it? Boosters only last 6 months, so in effect if you stop taking the booster shots you won't be protected any longer. Seems like they are just saying, hey don't worry about it anymore... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elias Pettersson Posted April 13 Share Posted April 13 (edited) 38 minutes ago, Boudrias said: Cool it. Your starting to sound like a trucker. Why don't you actually provide a response as to why the government is now telling us it's okay not to take any more booster shots instead of some dumb comment about me being the equivalent of some anti-vaxxer trucker... Edited April 13 by Elias Pettersson 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RUPERTKBD Posted April 13 Share Posted April 13 Just now, Elias Pettersson said: They told us that we need to take a booster every 6 months. Now they are telling us that we don't need to do that anymore. Why is it? Can you explain it? Boosters only last 6 months, so in effect if you stop taking the booster shots you won't be protected any longer. Seems like they are just saying, hey don't worry about it anymore... Because things change. Especially with a virus that was unknown just 3 years ago. It's not that hard. Not everything is some giant conspiracy..... FWIW, I received a text about a week ago saying that I'm eligible for a booster, but it wasn't necessary if I was already boosted and had recovered from Covid. (Which I had) This tells me that the response is evolving. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elias Pettersson Posted April 13 Share Posted April 13 Just now, RUPERTKBD said: Because things change. Especially with a virus that was unknown just 3 years ago. It's not that hard. Not everything is some giant conspiracy..... FWIW, I received a text about a week ago saying that I'm eligible for a booster, but it wasn't necessary if I was already boosted and had recovered from Covid. (Which I had) This tells me that the response is evolving. So, basically what you are saying is that things have changed to the point where we don't need protection any longer? Has COVID disappeared? We were being told that we would need to take a booster shot in a regular regimen similar to the flu shot. Now, it's apparently totally unnecessary. So, you are already boosted and had COVID. Does this mean you won't get COVID again, or if you do you are adequately protected? The booster shot only is effective for around 6 months as per the data. What's gonna happen to you after your 6 months is up? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elias Pettersson Posted April 13 Share Posted April 13 Anyways, I guess I have one less thing to worry about now. No more booster shots for me. Bonnie said it's okay not to get another one... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Lock Posted April 13 Share Posted April 13 (edited) 29 minutes ago, Elias Pettersson said: So, basically what you are saying is that things have changed to the point where we don't need protection any longer? Has COVID disappeared? We were being told that we would need to take a booster shot in a regular regimen similar to the flu shot. Now, it's apparently totally unnecessary. So, you are already boosted and had COVID. Does this mean you won't get COVID again, or if you do you are adequately protected? The booster shot only is effective for around 6 months as per the data. What's gonna happen to you after your 6 months is up? Covid hasn't disappeared. It's just become less lethal. It's very common for viruses to mutate in order to increase its infection rate but usually that comes at a price of it being less severe. Think about how the omicron strain was less of an issue than the previous strains. Remember that viruses are living organisms too with a primary goal of survival. If you are already boosted you can get COVID. The booster makes the severity less of an issue. Boosters were never about not getting the virus at all. They were about protecting yourself in the event that you do get it. It saved lives in the end since people who likely would have died without a booster had less severe symptoms, allowing them to survive. Also, if you got COVID once you can get it again. As far as the 6 months go, just think logically on it. Just because you get a booster once, it doesn't mean that booster's going to stay in you forever. When that booster's gone from your body really depends. It's not like immediately after 6 months you won't have immunity anymore, it just depends on when that booster leaves your body. So there's definately no need to overthink this. Just look at logically what happens to boosters over a period of time. Simply put, they don't last forever. Edited April 13 by The Lock 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Arrogant Worms Posted April 13 Share Posted April 13 1 hour ago, Elias Pettersson said: They told us that we need to take a booster every 6 months. Now they are telling us that we don't need to do that anymore. Why is it? Can you explain it? Boosters only last 6 months, so in effect if you stop taking the booster shots you won't be protected any longer. Seems like they are just saying, hey don't worry about it anymore... I just got a text about getting another booster. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mj2345 Posted April 14 Share Posted April 14 (edited) I think Henry said the general public doesn’t need the Spring booster offered now, only the elderly and those more vulnerable…we’ll still have a fall Covid booster just like flu shots we take for each season Edited April 14 by Mj2345 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post D.B Cooper Posted April 14 Popular Post Share Posted April 14 5 hours ago, Elias Pettersson said: They told us that we need to take a booster every 6 months. Now they are telling us that we don't need to do that anymore. Why is it? Can you explain it? Boosters only last 6 months, so in effect if you stop taking the booster shots you won't be protected any longer. Seems like they are just saying, hey don't worry about it anymore... They told us a lot of stuff over the last 3 years that turned out to be bull poop. Let’s not act too surprised. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post 6of1_halfdozenofother Posted April 14 Popular Post Share Posted April 14 19 hours ago, Elias Pettersson said: So, you are already boosted and had COVID. Does this mean you won't get COVID again, or if you do you are adequately protected? The booster shot only is effective for around 6 months as per the data. What's gonna happen to you after your 6 months is up? As with most vaccines, the goal isn't to "not get" the disease, it's to take the edge off the most severe outcomes and give people a fighting chance at avoiding getting critically ill. Strictly speaking, the 2nd+ doses aren't really really really required, but there was so little known about this coronavirus that the PHOs wanted to err on the side of caution in this regard (despite their hesitation to implement other medical orders), because it's known that antibodies are an effective first line of defence. However, the idea is that after first dose (and booster, if that's what it takes to trigger a robust response), the key issue of severe outcome of contraction becomes less of a concern, and the vaccine - combined with a response triggered with actual exposure - will help the body's B cells to remember what to look for, and recognize the virus (its spike protein initially, other viral fragments after exposure) as a threat and to initiate a response the next time it encounters something similar to it. So the vaccine is a primer to get your body's immune system to be able to flag stuff, and when the actual exposure happens, it's not left unsuspecting as a john about to get their jugular punctured from a vampire that they thought was just another hooker. tl;dr - antibodies good as first line of defence, but your B cells are what keeps you healthy, and the vaccine helps prime your body's response (including B cells) to the threat. Oh, and the government has to keep the messaging simple in order to get the message across to the broadest swath of population, but unfortunately by dumbing shit down, a lot gets lost in translation and the message no longer matches what the reality of the situation requires. Pick your poison, I guess. 4 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RUPERTKBD Posted April 14 Share Posted April 14 20 hours ago, Elias Pettersson said: So, basically what you are saying is that things have changed to the point where we don't need protection any longer? Has COVID disappeared? We were being told that we would need to take a booster shot in a regular regimen similar to the flu shot. Now, it's apparently totally unnecessary. So, you are already boosted and had COVID. Does this mean you won't get COVID again, or if you do you are adequately protected? The booster shot only is effective for around 6 months as per the data. What's gonna happen to you after your 6 months is up? What I'm saying is that the situation is evolving along with the virus. Some folks will need the extra protection that a booster provides and some will not. I'm really not sure why this is so hard for you to understand, or why you have such a bee in your bonnet about it. You still haven't answered the my earlier question: What does any Health Authority have to gain by "tricking" you into getting boosted? What's the endgame? I just want to clear up whether you're one of those people who believe in some nefarious plot by shady governments to "control" the populace, or something equally inane... If so, then I can just go ahead and ignore your ravings.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warhippy Posted April 14 Share Posted April 14 Why are people confused about not needing extra shots or why the government is opening things wide open? This is kind of exactly what they said was going to be the case from the medical experts. Stay home, mitigate. Get shots to help curb the severity of any illness you might get. Over time exposure and vaccines will bring spread down to negligible levels After prolonged time of minimized spread everything would be open, need for supplementary vaccination would be optional This is exactly what they said would happen, the message got muddied along the way but idiots with social media channels and gripes but the core message and timeline never changed. Let's move on and stop whining shall we. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elias Pettersson Posted April 14 Share Posted April 14 1 hour ago, RUPERTKBD said: What I'm saying is that the situation is evolving along with the virus. Some folks will need the extra protection that a booster provides and some will not. I'm really not sure why this is so hard for you to understand, or why you have such a bee in your bonnet about it. You still haven't answered the my earlier question: What does any Health Authority have to gain by "tricking" you into getting boosted? What's the endgame? I just want to clear up whether you're one of those people who believe in some nefarious plot by shady governments to "control" the populace, or something equally inane... If so, then I can just go ahead and ignore your ravings.... We were told we were going to need a booster shot every 6 months. It was going to be similar to getting a flu shot. This is now not the case. Not only do we not need an additional booster shot at this time, but there are also no current plans for any additional shots at this time in the immediate future. I have a bee in my bonnet because I have a sister that has not left her house in 3 years because she thinks she is going to die if she does. That was the message being spread around, that this virus was so dangerous that you had to mask up everywhere you go, get all of your vaccinations, and then stay home at Christmas and don't go visit your loved ones. My sister followed Bonnie Henry's advice to a tee and now has not had a life in 3 years. But now Bonnie is changing course and telling my sister, hey don't worry, you don't need that 3rd booster shot any longer, and you can go out without a mask, even to a hospital, not to worry as everything is going to be okay. This is without any sort of scientific evidence being published to the public, just an article in the newspaper that is saying everything is okay now. I appreciate the feedback from some other posters who have been trying to explain the evolution of this virus and how things have changed. However, if you are just a regular Joe out there you wouldn't have a clue what is going on and the message from the health authorities has been all over the place the last two years. As to answering your question, I never said the Health Authority "tricked" me into taking anything. I did it willingly after processing all of the available information at the time and listening to the experts. I have no clue what their "end game" is, if there even is one other than to get us all out of this mess once and for all. There is nothing nefarious in questioning the health authorities, especially when the messaging seems to change over time. Questioning people in power does not make you some weirdo conspiracy theorist. Some people like me are just average, hardworking citizens of this country who once in a while use their critical thinking skills to question things that are happening around them and why certain decisions are being made. Not everyone follows people in authority blindly and without questioning decisions that are being made. In any event, it is what it is. One less thing for me to worry about now. I haven't even had a runny nose in 3 years so this virus, even at its deadliest stage, did not have any effect on me whatsoever. It is the other people in my life that I worry about. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warhippy Posted April 14 Share Posted April 14 31 minutes ago, Elias Pettersson said: I have a bee in my bonnet because I have a sister that has not left her house in 3 years because she thinks she is going to die if she does. That was the message being spread around, that this virus was so dangerous that you had to mask up everywhere you go, get all of your vaccinations, and then stay home at Christmas and don't go visit your loved ones. My sister followed Bonnie Henry's advice to a tee and now has not had a life in 3 years. But now Bonnie is changing course and telling my sister, hey don't worry, you don't need that 3rd booster shot any longer, and you can go out without a mask, even to a hospital, not to worry as everything is going to be okay. This is without any sort of scientific evidence being published to the public, just an article in the newspaper that is saying everything is okay now. This is not the case at all. Dr Henry has been unequivocal about the importance of vaccination and how those most at risk or those with serious at risk members in their family should still get/seek additional protection. My father WAS the most at risk type and he caught covid and it killed him. He spent almost 19 months cooped up inside but it still got him. Almost got me too and I have to live with the potential knowledge that I in fact gave it to him. But, he also was not someone who ever got the shot. I did. Due to the severity of my experience with it I can say almost certainly that I would have died had I not gotten that shot. I can say with some degree of certainty that had my dad in fact gotten the shots he might still be here and I'd not have that potential weight that I gave it to him. Dr Henry also said that the virus is expected to morph in to another seasonal flu as was the expected case to begin with and as such to expect the booster/vaccine rollouts to be brought out every flu season again, but with the increase of bivalent vaccines (flu/covid) that it is time to start opening things up completely At no point in time is she saying don't worry, don't get the shot. That is your opinion and literally nothing grounded in fact or statement. I would challenge you sir to produce the statements you say she made because the entire medical community still seems to be in lock step about this and have a very consistent message. 1 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RUPERTKBD Posted April 14 Share Posted April 14 48 minutes ago, Elias Pettersson said: We were told we were going to need a booster shot every 6 months. It was going to be similar to getting a flu shot. This is now not the case. Not only do we not need an additional booster shot at this time, but there are also no current plans for any additional shots at this time in the immediate future. I have a bee in my bonnet because I have a sister that has not left her house in 3 years because she thinks she is going to die if she does. That was the message being spread around, that this virus was so dangerous that you had to mask up everywhere you go, get all of your vaccinations, and then stay home at Christmas and don't go visit your loved ones. My sister followed Bonnie Henry's advice to a tee and now has not had a life in 3 years. But now Bonnie is changing course and telling my sister, hey don't worry, you don't need that 3rd booster shot any longer, and you can go out without a mask, even to a hospital, not to worry as everything is going to be okay. This is without any sort of scientific evidence being published to the public, just an article in the newspaper that is saying everything is okay now. I appreciate the feedback from some other posters who have been trying to explain the evolution of this virus and how things have changed. However, if you are just a regular Joe out there you wouldn't have a clue what is going on and the message from the health authorities has been all over the place the last two years. As to answering your question, I never said the Health Authority "tricked" me into taking anything. I did it willingly after processing all of the available information at the time and listening to the experts. I have no clue what their "end game" is, if there even is one other than to get us all out of this mess once and for all. There is nothing nefarious in questioning the health authorities, especially when the messaging seems to change over time. Questioning people in power does not make you some weirdo conspiracy theorist. Some people like me are just average, hardworking citizens of this country who once in a while use their critical thinking skills to question things that are happening around them and why certain decisions are being made. Not everyone follows people in authority blindly and without questioning decisions that are being made. In any event, it is what it is. One less thing for me to worry about now. I haven't even had a runny nose in 3 years so this virus, even at its deadliest stage, did not have any effect on me whatsoever. It is the other people in my life that I worry about. This is the statement from the Provincial health Website: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2023HLTH0019-000307 “The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) recently issued guidance on additional booster doses of COVID-19 vaccine. B.C. will be adopting this guidance; people at high risk of severe illness including individuals older than 80, all seniors in long-term care homes, Indigenous people older than 70 and people 18 and older who are moderately to severely immunocompromised can get a spring booster. “In addition to high-risk individuals, people 60 and older, or Indigenous people 50 and older, who have not previously contracted COVID-19, can also consider receiving a spring booster dose. “We also continue to encourage everyone six months and older to get immunized with a primary series and, if they’re eligible, a booster dose, including anyone 18 and over who has not yet received a bivalent booster dose. Maybe you can point out the part where she says everyone needs a booster every 6 months. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Arrogant Worms Posted April 14 Share Posted April 14 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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