Photo: Contributed
Interior Health is investigating how a COVID-19 outbreak is now occurring at the Cottonwoods Care Center in Kelowna, the first facility in town to offer the coronavirus vaccine to employees and residents.
The health authority explained the outbreak over the weekend after confirming 10 cases among local residents and two among staff.
Dr. Sue Pollock, IH’s medical health officer, said Monday that eight of these cases occurred in people who were vaccinated in January and February, “but were likely not given immunity, which would take two to three weeks.”
“It is difficult to know how the COVID-19 virus got into Cottonwoods. It could have been done by an employee, a patient, or an essential visitor. We’re definitely investigating this through contact tracing, but we may never be able to definitively determine how it came about, ”she added.
Dr. Pollock says more than 80 percent of Cottonwoods residents received at least one dose and at least 65 percent of employees received at least one dose. She said the short-stay unit at Cottonwoods includes people who are temporarily visiting and may not have received their vaccine. The teams are now on site providing these residents with vaccines.
Dr. Provincial health officer Bonnie Henry said some of the cases at Cottonwoods have occurred in people who actually received both doses of the vaccine.
“This reminds us that while we are very confident that the vaccine will be very effective in preventing particularly serious illness and death, it does not necessarily mean that all transmissions will stop. We must now be aware that we still have high levels of transmission in our communities and the importance of continuing these precautions, ”said Dr. Henry.
Dr. Pollock said Interior Health may still see some long-term care outbreaks despite the vaccination program, “but they will be less frequent and less severe.”
“This outbreak in Cottonwood’s long-term care is unfortunate, but we know this group remains the most susceptible to COVID infection because of their age and community life,” she said.
All of the infected cases associated with Cottonwoods are “fine,” IH said.
With only 65 percent of Cottonwoods employees vaccinated, Dr. Pollock, it is to be expected that some health professionals will reject the vaccine, as will the general public.
“The most important thing we can do is reassure the public that vaccines are safe and effective. We have very good evidence to support this, ”she said. “We are re-offering the vaccine to all staff and residents who may not have had it for the first time, and some who previously hesitated will now accept it.”
