Vancouver Island Health Authority

Family, friends and supporters gathered for a quiet memorial behind the Port Alberni Friendship Center on Sept. 1, 2021 to remember Russell Seeber, whose life ended tragically at the same location a few days earlier. A cross has been erected as a physical memorial. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

‘Helpful’, ‘lost’: friends, family recall victim of Port Alberni tree tragedy

Advocates say Russell Seeber’s death underlines need for 24-hour crisis response

 

Members of the Island Health team Carlee Bushell (back row left), Dr. Mike Benusic, Charlotte Brown, Kaylee Gray, Matt Erickson (front row left) and Mike Munro in front of the health authority’s new mobile vaccination clinic, the Vax Van. (Kiernan Green/News Staff)

Island Health launches mobile first-vaccination clinic across south island communities

Vax Van aims to reach vaccine hesitant people age 18 to 40 where they’re at

 

Things are looking up for Vancouver Island as zero COVID-19 cases have been reported for the first time since October. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Island records zero new COVID-19 cases for the first time since October

For the first time since October, the province is reporting zero new…

 

A nurse gets a swab ready to perform a test on a patient at a drive-in COVID-19 clinic in Montreal, on Wednesday, October 21, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson

Island’s daily COVID-19 case count drops below 10 for just the second time in 2021

Province reports 8 new COVID-19 cases on Vancouver Island Wednesday

A nurse gets a swab ready to perform a test on a patient at a drive-in COVID-19 clinic in Montreal, on Wednesday, October 21, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson
Victor Osborne, 102, of Nanaimo, who was born during the Spanish flu pandemic and took part in an influenza A vaccine trial while in the Royal Navy in 1934, will get his first COVID-19 vaccine dose on Monday, March 15. (News Bulletin file photo)

102-year-old B.C. veteran born during our last pandemic books his COVID-19 shot

Victor Osborne is no stranger to new vaccines

Victor Osborne, 102, of Nanaimo, who was born during the Spanish flu pandemic and took part in an influenza A vaccine trial while in the Royal Navy in 1934, will get his first COVID-19 vaccine dose on Monday, March 15. (News Bulletin file photo)
Riley and Samuel, Jennifer Carroll’s sons, help deliver popcorn to a medical department that was involved in a transplant in a previous year. Operation Popcorn is BC Transplant’s way of saying thank you to medical staff for their role in ilfesaving transplants. (FILE PHOTO COURTESY OF JENNIFER CARROLL)

One family’s decision gives three people the ultimate gift on Christmas Day

Jennifer Carroll of Port Alberni has a special reason to reflect on the spirit of giving

Riley and Samuel, Jennifer Carroll’s sons, help deliver popcorn to a medical department that was involved in a transplant in a previous year. Operation Popcorn is BC Transplant’s way of saying thank you to medical staff for their role in ilfesaving transplants. (FILE PHOTO COURTESY OF JENNIFER CARROLL)
Since the Saanich Peninsula Hospital COVID-19 outbreak was declared Dec.1, 22 people have tested positive, four of which have died. (Arnold Lim/Black Press)

Fourth death confirmed in Saanich Peninsula Hospital outbreak

Total of 11 patients and 11 staff members have tested positive

Since the Saanich Peninsula Hospital COVID-19 outbreak was declared Dec.1, 22 people have tested positive, four of which have died. (Arnold Lim/Black Press)
More than 46 per cent of Vancouver Island residents reported worsening health during COVID-19 in a province-wide survey released Dec. 4. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

Islanders’ mental health takes heavy hit under COVID-19: survey results

COVID-19 SPEAK survey collected results from nearly 400,000 B.C. residents

More than 46 per cent of Vancouver Island residents reported worsening health during COVID-19 in a province-wide survey released Dec. 4. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
Health officials are discouraging travel to and from Vancouver Island as COVID-19 cases rise. (Black Press Media file photo)

At least 86 of the Island’s fall COVID-19 cases were people who travelled

More than 500 Vancouver Islanders currently isolating after COVID-19 exposures

Health officials are discouraging travel to and from Vancouver Island as COVID-19 cases rise. (Black Press Media file photo)
(Black Press Media file photo)

Contact tracing now mandatory at Vancouver Island campgrounds, RV parks

As of Nov. 13, owners must collect information from each patron

(Black Press Media file photo)
The flu shot is in high demand across Vancouver Island. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Flu vaccine runs low in Greater Victoria

Demand for flu shot spikes across Vancouver Island

The flu shot is in high demand across Vancouver Island. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Dan Kelly, a 71-year-old retired firefighter, walking within an hour of his second hip replacement surgery, thanks to a new pilot project aimed at shortening recovery time. (Courtesy of Island Health)

New Island Health surgical program may be used to address COVID-19 surgery backlog

Pilot project speeds up joint replacement recovery time

Dan Kelly, a 71-year-old retired firefighter, walking within an hour of his second hip replacement surgery, thanks to a new pilot project aimed at shortening recovery time. (Courtesy of Island Health)
Getting access to a COVID-19 test should only take up to two days in the Island Health region but getting through to the health authority’s testing call centre might require some patience. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Elaine Thompson)

High call volumes cause delays for Island Health’s COVID-19 call centre

Increased cases, technical difficulties cause 60 to 90-minute phone waits for some callers

Getting access to a COVID-19 test should only take up to two days in the Island Health region but getting through to the health authority’s testing call centre might require some patience. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Elaine Thompson)
The Saanich Peninsula Hospital. (Arnold Lim / Black Press)

MLA ‘devastated’ by claims of racist blood-alcohol ‘game’ at Saanich Peninsula Hospital

Adam Olsen says racism in B.C. health care system is pervasive

The Saanich Peninsula Hospital. (Arnold Lim / Black Press)
Still no COVID-19 cases at Island Health long-term care facilities

Still no COVID-19 cases at Island Health long-term care facilities

Health authority takes ‘robust’ management approach to all illness outbreaks

Still no COVID-19 cases at Island Health long-term care facilities
Courtenay doctor confirms Comox Valley’s first case of COVID-19

Courtenay doctor confirms Comox Valley’s first case of COVID-19

Dr. Tanja Daws says there are ‘more confirmed cases’ on Vancouver Island

Courtenay doctor confirms Comox Valley’s first case of COVID-19
Game 1 of the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League’s North Island playoff final between the Oceanside Generals and Campbell River Storm, set for March 10 at Oceanside Place in Parksville, has been postponed. (File photo)

Concerns over COVID-19 prompt postponement of Vancouver Island junior hockey game

Several players reported to be self-isolating for influenza-like symptoms

Game 1 of the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League’s North Island playoff final between the Oceanside Generals and Campbell River Storm, set for March 10 at Oceanside Place in Parksville, has been postponed. (File photo)
Island Health warns parents to keep up on immunizations to prevent illnesses like whooping cough. (Pixabay)

Island Health warns of whooping cough at Esquimalt’s Macaulay Elementary

Island Health is urging parents to watch out for signs, and to keep immunizations updated

Island Health warns parents to keep up on immunizations to prevent illnesses like whooping cough. (Pixabay)
More than 9,000 school-aged children in the Island Health region are now listed in the public immunization registry. (Black Press File Photo)

Island Health sees 75 per cent increase in measles vaccinations since ‘catch up’ program began

Changes seen since province made it mandatory for parents to provide immunization records to schools

More than 9,000 school-aged children in the Island Health region are now listed in the public immunization registry. (Black Press File Photo)
One person with tuberculosis stayed at two separate hostels in Victoria in early March. (File photo)

Island Health confirms one case of tuberculosis in Victoria

Two hostels in Victoria were exposed in early March

One person with tuberculosis stayed at two separate hostels in Victoria in early March. (File photo)