Island Social Trends

Premier John Horgan got his COVID vaccination today at a pharmacy near the legislature. | There are now six pharmacies in the west shore (5 in Langford, 1 in Colwood) where you can get the AstraZeneca vaccine, as well as one in Sooke. People age 55 and older can get the AstraZeneca vaccine at pharmacies in BC (Horgan is 61). Pharmacies are selected to provide this service based on capacity (staff and physical layout) and in priority communities identified by Regional Health Authorities, says the BC Pharmacy Association. https://islandsocialtrends.ca/premier-gets-astrazeneca-sho/

New easy-read format: Island Social Trends presents our readers with a summary of key COVID points and highlights from the day's COVID updates, including quotes from Dr Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix. Key background points (for context), pics and links. https://islandsocialtrends.ca/april-15-todays-covid-quotes/

"If someone is sick in your household, get tested. There is a much lower threshold of not sending children to school," said Dr Henry today in her COVID media session today. And this is super big news (after all the people pushing for this): teachers/staff across BC will be vaccinated, starting with Surrey, said Dr Henry today. | Updates and analysis about COVID are posted on our website: www.islandsocialtrends.ca

SD62 had a budget discussion the other night (Resources Committee meeting). Big changes lie ahead, as you might expect, in order to adapt to the pandemic impacts on schools over the past year. Board Chair Ravi Parmar implied that the arts and libraries will likely be protected, even though the board will be advised by the Secretary-Treasurer to find $556,000 in cuts for the 2021-2022 budget. And there was a strong push to address mental health concerns in more organic, authentic ways. Here's the longer examination of it: https://islandsocialtrends.ca/sd62-to-protect-mental-healt/