As people in British Columbia gather to celebrate the holiday season, the Province encourages everyone to book an appointment to receive their free influenza and updated COVID-19 vaccines now to protect themselves against severe illness and hospitalization.

Health-care workers and patients benefit from safer work environments as the Province fulfils its commitment to recruit 320 new relational security officers throughout B.C. as part of the new security model announced in 2022.

People are rolling up their sleeves to protect themselves, their loved ones and the communities they live in against influenza and COVID-19 as the Province takes action to ensure it is easy and free to get immunized.

Patients in Merritt, Oliver and Salmon Arm and surrounding communities will soon have better access to emergency care, as the Province committed $7.5 million in permanent funding to help stabilize physician emergency-room coverage in hospitals in these communities.

Local and Indigenous governments are encouraged to apply for Active Communities Grants to support projects and programs that increase access to physical activity throughout their communities.

B.C.’s surgical-renewal strategy delivered a record volume of summer surgeries and continues to deliver more surgeries than ever throughout the province.

More people living in the East Kootenay region will have access to high-quality long-term care as Interior Health prepares to build a new care community with 148 beds.

Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.’s provincial health officer, and Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, have issued the following statement regarding the BA.2.86 variant being detected in British Columbia: