Vancouver Coastal Health is offering free pertussis vaccine to some residents in the region who havent had a shot in the last five years. Pertussis is also known as whooping cough. Pregnant women and their partners are eligible for the free shot, as are aboriginal people and anyone in contact with babies 18 months and younger
Advisories have been sent out through schools.
The free vaccine was announced due to an increase in whooping cough in the region since January. Close to 40 cases have been recordeda large increase, according to Vancouver Coastal Health. There were no cases in the same period last year. A pertussis outbreak in the Fraser health region continues with more than 150 cases recorded.
The vaccine is available from family doctors, public health clinics and some pharmacists.
Children usually get the pertussis vaccine at two, four, six and 18 months of age, at four to six years and in Grade 9. Vancouver Coastal Health recommends parents and guardians check childrens immunization record to ensure theyre up to date.
Babies under one can get very sick or even die from pertussis. It starts like a cold. Severe coughing spells begin within a week or two. The cough ends with a whoop or crowing sound when the person breathes in. Adults and teens usually dont make the whooping sound when they cough so making a diagnosis is more difficult. Doctors or nurse practitioners can do swab tests from the nose to confirm it.
Dear George
School board chair Patti Bacchus has penned a letter on behalf of the Vancouver School Board to Education Minister George Abbott asking him to repeal Bill 22.
Bacchus argues the labour dispute should be resolved through negotiation not legislation.
Creating a demoralized teaching force that feels disrespected by its employers is not how we take our education system from good to great, she wrote. Lets look to Finlands example of building positive relationships based on respect and trust, instead of the opposite direction you are taking us with Bill 22.
Bacchus also notes the board passed a resolution calling for the appointment of an independent mediator.
Whats cooking
Combining knives with dating seems questionable, but thats what the Vancouver School Boards continuing education department is doing through a new $139 coursea speed dating cooking class. Chef Helena Kopelow dreamed up the three-session course that starts April 18. Shes pitching it to divorced, widowed or single adults looking for love.
You just need to be single, an adult and hungry and youll be OK, she said. Its an easy ice breaker. Theres no pressure. Youre there to have fun.
Participants will cook up a three-course meal during each of the three sessions. Men will rotate to different partners for each course.
Youll meet nine people during the three weeks, Kopelow explained, adding shell accept up to 24 registrants.
I dont know whats going to happen. All I know is theyre going to have a great time. Theyre going to laugh and get awesome recipes. Theres going to be games and prizes. Worst comes to worst, youll meet some great people, have a fantastic meal and have a good time. And thats the worst-case scenario. Can you imagine the best-case scenario?
