Jen Lee

CBC Reporter specializing in health stories. [email protected]
Also find me @jenleecbc.bsky.social

[Jen Lee @JenLeeCBC]

I'm over at Bluesky now🦋
@jenleecbc.bsky.social
See you soon

[Jen Lee @JenLeeCBC]

Latest from me on the vaccine distribution saga here in Alberta👇
After shipments to community medical clinics halted in April, triggering months of uncertainty, the AB govt is pulling the plug on vaccine distribution to most community medical clinics.
https://t.co/tTnyyS1STs

[Jen Lee @JenLeeCBC]

Alberta's fall COVID-19 surge has arrived and hospitals are feeling it
Latest from me👇
https://t.co/zntsEWhuvV

[Jen Lee @JenLeeCBC]

ICYMI - a key refugee health clinic in Calgary is in danger of closing:

[Jen Lee @JenLeeCBC]

A Calgary medical clinic that provides health care to thousands of refugees a year may soon have to close its doors due to funding cuts.
Story👇
https://t.co/cZ3NRr1PYx

[Jen Lee @JenLeeCBC]

A Calgary medical clinic that provides health care to thousands of refugees a year may soon have to close its doors due to funding cuts.
Story👇
https://t.co/cZ3NRr1PYx

[Jen Lee @JenLeeCBC]

Alberta's weekly respiratory virus update👇
COVID-19
In hospital now: 297/10 ICU (last wk: 250/4)
Deaths: 98 since end of Aug (up from 77 last wk)
Positivity rate: 13.8%

FLU:
In hosp: 3
Deaths: 1 (this season)
Positivity rate: 1%

RSV
In hosp: 3
Deaths: 0
Positivity rate: .6%

[Jen Lee @JenLeeCBC]

Pharmacists are pushing back against the Alberta government's plan to cut some of their fees, warning the move could lead to job cuts and ultimately hurt patient care
Story:
https://t.co/qk33D37eyv

[Jen Lee @JenLeeCBC]

The days of access to free rapid COVID-19 tests are over, unless you stumble across a pharmacy with a few boxes left, and most Albertans wishing to test for the virus now have to pay out of pocket.
Latest👇 https://t.co/rPOweFtaIm

[Tony Seskus @TonySeskus]

Calgary is facing a population explosion. Are you feeling it? Living it? Let CBC Calgary know
https://t.co/7Gd5KCbRPx #yyc #yyccc

[Jen Lee @JenLeeCBC]

Alberta's latest weekly respiratory virus update👇
COVID:
In hospital: 250/4 icu
Deaths: 77 (since end of August)
Positivity rate: 14.7%

FLU:
In hospital: 0
Deaths: 1 (first flu death reported this season)
Positivity: 0.6%

RSV:
In hosp: 1
Deaths: 0
Positivity: 0.8%

[Jen Lee @JenLeeCBC]

Doctors and front-line workers are watching closely as HIV rates increase significantly in Alberta.
The number of new HIV cases reported to the province jumped by 73 per cent last year, from 293 in 2022 to 507 in 2023
Latest from me👇
https://t.co/zjeEeGjbnE

[Jen Lee @JenLeeCBC]

Some Alberta pharmacies won't get their COVID-19 vaccine shipments in time for the kickoff of the fall immunization campaign on Tuesday, creating yet another hiccup in the program's rollout
Latest from me👇
https://t.co/iIpVxue7UB

[Jen Lee @JenLeeCBC]

Alberta's latest respiratory virus update:
COVID-19
53 deaths since end of Aug
221 in hospital now/4 icu
12.2% positivity rate

FLU:
0 deaths this season
2 in hospital/1 icu
1% positivity ate

[Jen Lee @JenLeeCBC]

As the Alberta government continues to come under fire for failing to ship publicly funded vaccines to community medical clinics, the health minister insists she's looking into the delay + working on a backup plan.
Latest👇 https://t.co/d1sRUlTmPP

[Jen Lee @JenLeeCBC]

Alberta will start offering RSV vaccine for free to some seniors.
60+in care homes
75+ in community (for this group there are limited supplies)
Story👇 https://t.co/cXF7X63l8F

[Jen Lee @JenLeeCBC]

And, for folks who missed it, the vaccines will not be available in community medical clinics (ie: fam doctor/nurse practitioner clinics) due to distribution problem. See my previous story:
https://t.co/LS3tHgh82t

[Jen Lee @JenLeeCBC]

Alberta government announces launch of fall immunization campaign👇
Bookings begin today for COVID-19+flu shots, for appointments starting Oct 15 (at pharmacies/AHS clinics
And NEW:
A limited supply of publicly funded RSV vaccines will be available some Alberta seniors:

[Jen Lee @JenLeeCBC]

New: Alberta government says 14,000 patients may have experienced delayed care due to problems with referrals not being processed properly

31 may have experienced "negative outcome" due to delay/need immediate follow-up

AHS to hold news conference at 4:15

[Jen Lee @JenLeeCBC]

Alberta family doctors have been told they won't receive flu + COVID-19 vaccines in time for the Oct 15 launch.
A memo from AB Health indicates there is no distributor in place.
Other publicly funded vaccines impacted (incl pertussis/tetanus)
Story👇
https://t.co/LS3tHggAcV

[Jen Lee @JenLeeCBC]

I spoke with a Calgarian who lost her daughter 7 yrs ago due to a severe pregnancy complication.

She's made it her mission to raise awareness a/b HELLP syndrome + pre-eclampsia...and has raised $ to provide blood pressure kits to 250 pregnant women:
https://t.co/Kew3sIkutw