Handling Respiratory Illnesses
Rates of respiratory illness are on the rise throughout B.C. Learn about ways to get us through respiratory season.
Rates of respiratory illness are on the rise throughout B.C. Learn about ways to get us through respiratory season.
Last updated: September 28, 2023
The rates of respiratory illness are on the rise in B.C. We need to use many tools to get us through respiratory season. Below are resources and reminders to support you during respiratory illness season.
Several respiratory viruses are causing illness in B.C. Some children have had more severe illness in the past few weeks. Children are getting especially sick from influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Many children have not been exposed to influenza and other respiratory illnesses after two years of low rates of the flu. This is why it’s especially important for children to get vaccinated against influenza now.
Starting in October 2023, everyone 6 months and older can get an updated influenza (flu) and COVID-19 vaccine at the same time. For information on booking your flu and COVID-19 vaccines, visit the BC Government Respiratory Illness page.
Vaccinations remain the best defence against both influenza and COVID-19. You should receive all doses you are eligible for and encourage friends and family to do the same. Both health-care workers and the public can book influenza and COVID vaccinations through the Get Vaccinated system. This is the same system used to book COVID-19 vaccine appointments.
Beyond vaccinations, we can all help prevent the spread of respiratory illness by:
For more information on how to protect yourself and your loved ones, read more from First Nations Health Authority's webpage, Respiratory Illness Season is Here Again: How to Protect Yourself.
The Emergency Room (ER) in hospitals can be very busy, especially during the winter and holidays. For critical or life-threatening conditions, call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest emergency department. Some examples of emergencies include, but are not limited to:
Babies younger than 3 months of age, with a fever should be assessed by a doctor, their family doctor or an emergency room doctor, as soon as possible. They can get very sick quickly and require an aggressive approach to investigate the underlying cause. To learn more about when to take your child to the emergency room see:
For more information on symptoms and when to seek care, visit:
Learn information about common lung disease and respiratory conditions by visiting our Lung and Respiratory Conditions page or selecting the specific conditions below.