Vaccination important for care-home workers
Re: Compulsory vaccination a violation of rights, Nov. 15,
The writer is incorrect in assuming the current enhanced influenza policy is being implemented only in the Vancouver Island Health Authority. It is provincial policy and is being applied to residential-care facilities across all of B.C.
Residential-care workers are employed in settings where care is provided to individuals with challenging medical and cognitive care needs, and for some of the residents there is an urgent and ongoing need for 24-hour care. Simply put, they are among the most vulnerable and medically fragile people in our community.
We also know that influenza immunization does not work as effectively in these people because of their age or underlying health conditions, resulting in immunity levels poorer than in healthy people with healthy immune systems. Staff who work in residential care facilities are providing vital care to keep those living in these licensed facilities safe, comfortable and away from unnecessary and disruptive hospitalizations for preventable problems like influenza and falls.
Being part of the residential-care team is not just about managing illnesses in our facilities; it is also about maintaining the best achievable health for residents. You do not have to show signs and symptoms of influenza to be infectious to others. That is why it is important that those who work closely with long term care residents be immunized or wear a mask (there is a choice) to prevent disease transmission when working with residents.
We also encourage family members and friends who visit people who live in residential facilities to be immunized every year.
Richard Stanwick, chief medical health officer, Vancouver Island Health Authority, Victoria
Vaccines results vary with age
Re: Compulsory vaccination a violation of rights, Nov. 15.
Although occupational requirements can run counter to personal values, compliance with requirements is usually easier when there is an understanding of the rationale behind the request.
The writer believes that residential clients vaccinated against influenza wont become infected. Many elderly and infirm people have a weakened or depleted immune system and will not have the same level of protective antibody response to the vaccine that occurs with younger people. Babies also have a less developed immune system and may be less protected than others by some vaccines.
By vaccinating those in contact with the very young, the elderly and those who are ill, we all have a chance to help to protect others regardless of the setting where we work with them.
Fern Davey, North Saanich
Care-home challenges well explained
Re: How to make the care-home transition work, Nov. 16.
S.E. Taylor explains so well the difficulties of the nursing staff and, at the same time, the troubles of the elderly person put in their care, often unwillingly.
At 91, Im fortunate to be able to scoot to the Y to work out and to the library to enjoy the events they arrange and borrow from a huge choice of books and videos. And still enjoy many of the pleasures of using a computer, specially for Scrabble online, which I play every day between trying to finish the cryptic crossword. Im so fortunate to still have my wits about me and the energy to enjoy much of the wonderful things Victoria has to offer.
I would certainly not want to be put in a care home, which would have been probably built in the first place, to make money for the owners. But of course, if Im not fortunate enough to die painlessly, the time may well come and I hope my family will explain carefully why I have to go and make it it a little easier for me and for the staff to look after me.
Josephine Reed, Victoria
Hockey-game music getting too loud
I am in my mid-40s and, like many of my generation, I have been to innumerable concerts, including many ear-bashing performances by bands like Kiss, Cheap Trick, Aerosmith and The Who. I am not averse to loud music or sounds, when appropriate.
At what point did hockey games become so ridiculously noisy? The volume of the PA system during Victoria Royals games has become unbearable. Im all for pumping up the crowd and generating excitement, but I can only categorize todays hockey experience as an aural assault.
It wasnt like this when I used to go to Western Hockey League games 20 years ago. Unfortunately, its now loud enough for me to refuse free tickets.
Is it just that Im getting older or does anyone else lament this new reality?
Colin Gardiner, North Saanich
Lights no substitute for driver diligence
Re: Bicycle lights make Christmas gifts, Nov. 10.
While riding my bike home from work, I noticed a taxi on my right. As the driver was starting to slow down for the stop sign, I thought it safe for me to continue through the intersection.
I was wrong. As I entered the intersection, the driver of the taxi failed to stop and, in fact, picked up speed, causing a collision that resulted in me being taken to the hospital for an assessment of my injuries. Still off work.
More than a few motorists in Victoria regard stop signs, amber and red lights as mere suggestions. The letter-writer seems to indicate that some cyclists lack common sense and need help in keeping themselves safe as possible while on their bikes. That may be true, but in this instance, there were plenty of lights to alert the driver to my presence and that he was required to give me the right of way: two 500-lumen lights on the front with one light pointing right, one red light on my helmet, two on my backpack, two on the seat post and two more on the seat stays.
George Wilks, Victoria
Cheaper option exists for View Royal firehall
Its not that I dont appreciate the dedication and countless hours in service to the community given by volunteer firefighters. I do. Its not that I want the building to be unsafe, poorly positioned or uncomfortable. I dont.
The question is: do I want a new firehall or do I want a public safety building? The three reports the Town cites (the 1999 engineering seismic report and the two needs reports of 2007 and 2011) all give a second option to the $10-million building ($8 million in loans plus $2 million other plus interest) proposed by council.
The second option rebuilding the firehall on its current site would solve both the problems of locating the building properly on the site, upgrading the seismic capability and would allow a fully modern and safe facility at considerably less cost ($ 600,000 in the 1999 report).
It appears to me the additional features of the public safety building such as the fire teaching/training centre area, emergency operations centre, remote work space for ambulance and RCMP, and post-disaster capabilities, as well as fire-protection services for Victoria General Hospital, Thetis Lake Park and Songhees and Esquimalt band land should be shared regional responsibilities and should not be shouldered by the small number of View Royal taxpayers alone.
Jim Powell, View Royal
