British Columbia public health officials urge families to get their children vaccinated against COVID-19 and influenza following a series of reported child deaths, including the fatal stroke of a six-year-old girl..Richmond resident Danielle Mei Cabana passed away last weekend after a weeks long bout with the flu, according to an Instagram post from her father Denis. .Cabana explained his daughter became sick around Remembrance Day along with her sisters. The young child's illness continued after her siblings recovered..Upon being taken to BC Children’s Hospital amid her worsening symptoms, Cabana said his daughter was moved to the ICU for “myocarditis as a result of the flu.”.She was given medicine to help the myocarditis, the post said. Her heart stopped that evening and healthcare workers began CPR and hooked her up to a machine..Two heart procedures were conducted over the following two days, allowing her to start breathing again, but her father said the good news was short lived. The child suffered a stroke later that day which she would not recover from. .“We went back to the room where the doctors unplugged the machine and we said our goodbyes," said the post.."Dani held on for another 10 minutes or so before finally resting." .A GoFundMe set up to support the family has raised more than $75,000..CTV News said Tuesday it had learned that BC doctors were told six children have “died as a result of the flu” over the past two weeks..The information was reportedly shared at a Monday meeting between staff from BC Children’s Hospital, BC Women’s Hospital, and other pediatric specialists..Recording that many deaths over a two-week period is unusual for BC, as one or two children will die from the flu over an entire season in the province. In comparison, 10 pediatric flu deaths were reported across all of Canada during the 2018-2019 flu season..The Public Health Agency of Canada’s FluWatch reported 223 flu-associated hospitalizations among children 16 and under for the week ending November 26, which federal officials said is well above levels typical of this time of year..BC health officials suggest this season’s higher risk is due to children having not been exposed to influenza and other respiratory illnesses as a result of previously implemented COVID-19 measures, such as when children were mandated to wear masks, socially distance, attend school virtually, and were prohibited from various other social activities..The province maintains its position that all previous measures were the right move, noting the resulting rise in flu cases can be mitigated by another vaccination campaign..“As we head into the holiday season, I strongly encourage families and caregivers to get their children vaccinated against influenza, especially if they’re planning to spend time with elderly loved ones,” said BC Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry. .Henry has been calling for parents to get their children vaccinated against flu and COVID-19 and said the province will be “making it even easier to get your child immunized in the coming days.”.Ensuring an extra push to boost vaccination, BC will be doing a blitz of clinics with extra walk-in capacity this upcoming Friday and Saturday. The news followed BC Health Minister Adrian Dix saying he wants to see a higher vaccination rate among young people..The BCCDC hasn't released any official age-related data on recent flu-attributed deaths in the province.
