Editor:
John Horgan has promised that the COVID-19 vaccine (when it becomes available) will be provided free to all British Columbians and I agree with that plan.
However, I think that it would be even better if the influenza vaccine were free to everybody in the province, particularly this year.
I expect that there are a number of people who do not get the flu shot because of the cost.
If it were free to everybody, there would probably be a much better uptake, which may decrease the rate of illness this winter.
It has been stated that if a person gets the flu as well as COVID-19, their illness will be much more severe and will place a heavy burden on the health care system. I believe that free influenza vaccines would be a cost-effective item to include in the NDP’s platform.
Maria Walsh, Surrey
Editor’s note: Liberal leader Andrew Wilkinson has also promised, if elected, to make any future COVID-19 vaccine available at no charge. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Trudeau has confirmed that once developed and approved, a COVID-19 vaccine will be free to all Canadians.
