Podunk Below the Masthead (Tuesday, April 27, 2010)

The travel vaccination clinic returns to the city, questions arise over Regional District's budget requests and vandalism and violence in the down town area once again are brought to city council's attention, some of the items of the Tuesday news listings.

Daily News, front page, headline story
TRAVEL VACCINATION CLINIC TO REOPEN ON THE NORTH COAST THIS MAY -- Local residents can once again receive travel medicine and vaccinations in Prince Rupert, when the Travel Medicine and Vaccination centre opens up an office on May 5th in the McBride Street Primary Care Medical Clinic. The travel services will be provided every Wednesday evening from 5:30 to 9 PM. The travel clinic was last located in Prince Rupert in the fall of 2009 but was cut due to Northern Health's restraint program, travellers then had to make the trek to Prince George or Vancouver to receive their inoculations and consultations.

Skeena Queen Charlotte Regional District's budget requests will hit local taxpayers in the pocket book as the Regional Government seeks an increase of 26 percent, looking for a total increase in funding from Prince Rupert of close to 100,000 dollars. Local residents and former employees of the District attended the most recent R D meeting and questioned Mayor Mussallem about a variety of cost related issues surrounding the District's plans, the bulk of which involve staffing requirements recently implemented by the District.

The Daily outlines a tribute to former City of Prince Rupert employee Bob Thompson, as we outlined on the blog in early April, Thompson along with a number of other city employees have taken retirement or left the city's employment this month, the Daily providing a biography of Mr. Thompson's service to the city in the Tuesday edition.

The Sports section reviews last weeks Milk Run at Charles Hays Secondary School.

(Daily News Archive for Tuesday, April 27,2010)

Travel vaccination clinic to reopen on the North Coast this May SQCRD budget comes under fire
Thompson tackles retirement
Outfitter caught wearing the goat horns
Abuse victims addressed in local production

The Northern View
Retailer, city council discuss 'violence and vandalism' in downtown Prince Rupert -- Prince Rupert's vandalims and random violence downtown was addressed at the most recent city council session as a local retailer outlined his frustrations with the situation (see article here)

The Northern View
Ridley says funding formula must change -- Ridley Terminals reviews its financials from 2009 and expresses its belief that the funding formula in place over financial matters needs to be changed to better reflect the Terminals requirements (see article here)

The Northern View
Local featured in employment success book -- Two local residents are profiled in a new book called RESPECT, a 30 page project which tells the stories of people with developmental disabilities who are in the workforce and includes the stories of Jamie Alexander of Prince Rupert and Harmit Atwal of Terrace. (see story here)

The Northern View 
MP meets with Alaskan senators -- Nathan Cullen's trip to Washington provided him the opportunity to discuss issues of concern between BC and Alaska as he met with Alaskan Senate and Congressional representatives (see article here)

The Northern View
City to host 2011 NCLGA meeting -- The City will once again call on volunteers to help it host an upcoming meeting, as the City confirms it will be hosting the 2011 North Central Local Government Association convention next May. The convention will bring 200 to 300 visitors to the city for three day (see article here)

The Northern View
BC Annual gets underway Sunday -- The Lester Centre is once again home to a key BC dance competition as the BC Annual is set to get underway on May 2nd for a week of competition. (see article here)

CFTK TV 7
No items of concern to Prince Rupert were posted on the CFTK website on Tuesday

CBC News British Columbia, Daybreak North
No new items were posted to the Daybreak North website on Tuesday

Daybreak North is only posting selected items on their website now. The most recently posted items can be found on the archive page for Daybreak North click here 

Daily News, front page, headline story

Travel vaccination clinic to reopen on the North Coast this May 
By Monica Lamb-Yorski 
Staff Writer 
Prince Rupert Daily News
Tuesday, April 27, 2010

After going without for almost half a year, locals will now have access to travel medicine and vaccines, when a Travel Medicine & Vaccination Centre (TMVC) opens an office in Prince Rupert on May 5.

The clinic will be located at 501 McBride Street in the new Primary Care Medical Clinic. The office will initially be open on Wednesday evenings from 5:30 to 9:00 pm, but will expand as demand warrants, possibly to Saturdays. 

“We are excited about bringing back a dedicated full service travel clinic to Prince Rupert after a number of months since the closure of the public health travel clinic” said TMVC’s manager Ray Christopherson in a press release. 

“TMVC is the largest medical organization in B.C. specializing in providing vaccinations for travellers and for occupational purposes. We have 21 offices located throughout British Columbia. All offices are Public Health Agency of Canada designated Yellow Fever Vaccination Centres.”

Nurse practitioner Toby Hilton will be leading the vaccine clinic and will be available to provide vaccinations, prescriptions for travel diseases such as malaria and traveller’s diarrhea, and travel advice.

Hilton worked at a travel clinic in the fall of 2009 and has also done travel consulting with public health.

 “I really enjoyed it because I’ve travelled a lot and I enjoy talking to people about their trips,” Hilton told the Daily News. “Most recently I was in Vietnam and Cambodia and have volunteered in orphanages in India, Bolivia and Guatemala.”

According to Hilton, Northern Health Authority closed its travel vaccine service in November due to economic restraints. “It was considered a non-essential service. There are other health authorities that have cut back theirs as well,” she explained.

Previously, travellers could visit a public health nurse for vaccinations, but since November, people have had to travel to Vancouver or Prince George to have a consultation and travel shots.

“Some people book appointments with their family doctor for advice and some vaccines can be ordered in, but doctors are not licensed to give some vaccines, such as yellow fever. Someone in Prince Rupert going to Africa needs the yellow fever vaccine and they need it ten days before they leave,” Hilton said, adding that the lack of travel vaccines locally has been in inconvenience for travelers in the Northwest.

Travel vaccines are a specialized field and having someone that has access to updated databases and the latest information for travel to different countries is essential.

 “TMVC is looking at opening a clinic in Smithers and eventually Terrace, but not yet, so we’re the closest right now,” Hilton added.

The clinic will stock a complete range of travel and occupational health related vaccinations including the new Shingles vaccine. It will also offer a selection of travel health accessories such as mosquito nets, repellents, first aid kits and water purification products.

 “We are committed to providing business and pleasure travellers with the highest level of service and expertise,” added Christopherson.

Hilton said unfortunately there are people who are not aware of what they need until they are ready to leave for a trip. 

“Then they learn they have to delay their trip by a couple of weeks and that ends up costing more money.” 

Appointments can be made by calling 1-888-288-8682. You can also visit the web site at www.tmvc.com