LAKELAND - Alberta Health Services (AHS) wanted to connect with those residing in the North Zone when it came to COVID-19, vaccinations, and more.
The AHS COVID-19 and Vaccine Safety Community Conversation was held virtually on Wednesday night, and it offered an opportunity for those living within the AHS North Zone to ask questions and learn more about the ongoing pandemic.
On-hand to present the facts and figures, in addition to answer questions, were AHS Medical Officers of Health Dr. Kathryn Koliaska and Dr. Kristin Klein.
Koliaska is also the Medical Officer of Health for Safe Healthy Environments, while Klein takes on the role of co-chair for the AHS Vaccine Task Force.
How far we've come
“Last spring, we peaked at 336 cases... Then we got into the fall and winter months and had a really challenging winter, peaking on Dec. 13 with 1,867 cases in one day," Koliaska said. "That was pretty significant, until we had our next peak, our next wave, and our next experience, which was much more recent, just over a month ago."
During the latest peak, on April 30, the province reached 2,392 cases of COVID in one day.
Koliaska broke down the hills and valleys into age groups, with the first being 80-years-old and above.
“We can really see... that the highest impact to our seniors 80-plus years was really in the middle of the second wave, in the middle of the winter,” she explained.
Around the beginning of 2021, "the vaccine program started, and we really noticed a dramatic difference in the number of cases in our older age groups."
Not only that, but they noticed less outbreaks in long-term care facilities as well.
"That really underlines two really important pieces, one is that these were life-saving measures because along with these illnesses came deaths as well, and the other thing is we're actually able to see the true value and impact of how well vaccines work in the province," detailed Koliaska.
In the 60 to 79-year-olds, mid-winter there was an increase in the number of illnesses, however it wasn't as high as the older age group.
But, Koliaska said, they did experience some illness in the third wave because they were the next to get vaccinated.
When looking at those aged 30 to 59, Koliaska said, there's a spike much like the others in the middle of winter, however, there's another, larger peak "that we just went through."
"Vaccines really hadn't had a chance to rollout and have a huge difference on these age groups just yet," she explained.
Those who are 20 to 29-years-old experienced much similar highs and lows in the number of COVID cases.
"Part of it is vaccine eligibility, part of it may also be the types of jobs these individuals are in and other factors as they pertain to individual circumstances," outlined Koliaska.
What AHS is seeing in this third wave, particularly with school-aged youth (five-years-old to 19-years-old), is the majority of those who have gotten sick throughout the pandemic have been during the most recent wave.
Koliaska said part of this is due to the fact that most of this age group haven't been eligible for the vaccine up until this point.
Children four-years-old and younger follow a similar pattern.
Vaccines
All Albertans aged 12 and up are now eligible to receive at least their first dose of the vaccine.
A few days prior to the presentation, “we hit the 2 million doses administered in Alberta, and we’re hopefully and quickly eyeing the three million mark,” Koliaska expressed.
According to Klein, there are four vaccines that have been authorized by Health Canada to be administered: Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, and mRNA.
"All of these vaccines work to prepare your body to fight the virus," outlined Klein. "It creates antibodies so your body can recognize the virus if it is exposed to it and it can fight it very quickly so the impact is reduced or even eliminated."
She stressed the vaccines do not contain the virus itself.
"We get a lot of questions about whether the vaccine can give you COVID or make you test positive for COVID, and neither of those are possible with any of the vaccines that we use here in the province," Klein explained.
Although getting your vaccine can't give you the virus, it can have some side effects such as pain at the injection site, nausea, feeling under the weather, a headache, fever, or body aches, among others.
Incidences where there's a more severe or unusual reaction are reported to AHS.
Another topic often brought up, Klein said, is the effectiveness and safety of the vaccines.
She noted, Canada has a high-level of standard for all vaccines, including those created for the coronavirus.
"The vaccines all have to go through their normal clinical trials and those are assessed by Health Canada before Health Canada authorizes any products to be used in the country, and it doesn't stop there," she said. "There continues to be surveillance even after the vaccines are used so we can see any changes that happen in real life, so monitor real life effectiveness as well as detect more rare safety signals when the vaccines are used for millions and millions of people."
While Klein encouraged everyone to at least get their first dose of the vaccine, she emphasized the importance of following-up and receiving your second shot, "in order to ensure your protection is the highest level it can be and will last the longest."
She added, even after you've received your first and second dose, it's important to follow all public health measures.
What the public wanted to know
One member of the public was curious about whether the COVID vaccine would be annual or require further doses after the second.
Unfortunately, Klein said, that has yet to be determined.
In addition to trials and "chatter within the international vaccine community" about whether or not annual or additional doses will be needed, "at this point we don't have any concrete answers about whether that is or is not the case."
She added, "Currently, in Alberta, we're not planning for a third dose of the program, but obviously this is a very evolving field and as more research is brought to light and as we're seeing more about the longer-term protection that you're getting from two doses, I think we will be able to provide more guidance."
Aside from discussion about vaccines and mask requirements, another question directed at Klein was how she personally and professionally felt about children going back to school.
"I think generally what we've seen with children is they're less likely to be transmitting COVID, particularly in the school environment. We have seen some transmission, but it's not a huge amount within school," Klein detailed. "Kids typically get COVID-19 from either their parents who are out and about, or through other recreational activities."
Schools are determined "not to be a high-risk setting" for spreading the virus, she added.
As a parent with young children in school, Klein is personally happy to see them go back to class.
"It's really a balance between the benefits kids get from their school environment and in-person learning from both the learning aspects and social aspects that are being balanced against the COVID risk. Right now, just from a public health perspective the benefits that kids are getting from school is outweighing the risk of COVID in the current climate."
Treating everyone with respect
“This has been a long year-and-a-half for everyone, personally, professionally, in all aspects of our lives. It’s important to always remember to remain compassionate for people who have COVID or for their personal choices with what they're doing in their lives,” Klein said, adding including their decision on whether or not to get immunized.
"People have different approaches, concerns, and fears, and what we want to do within AHS is make sure everyone has the correct information from reputable sources so they can understand the situation, and that we're clear about our communication about what is required and recommended," continued Klein.
But kindness goes beyond treating the everyday Albertan with respect.
Klein explained how some AHS staff are being treated poorly.
"It's never okay to harass or threaten people who are just doing their jobs," she exclaimed.
“Our staff have been the target of significant verbal abuse and even threats as they do the jobs they’re legally required to do, which is to administer to orders that come from the Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Deena Hinshaw,” said Nicole Merrifield, Community Engagement and External Relations for AHS.
