'You've got to get the shot': N.B. pharmacist recovering from COVID-19 credits vaccines for keeping him out of hospital
Ten days ago, Sussex, N.B. pharmacist Kevin Duplisea was snowshoeing with his dog. Today, he has a hard time catching his breath walking around his home.
“I had ongoing fevers, night sweats through the night that I had to get up and change my clothes, change the bedding, like sopping wet night sweats. There were fever dreams, or sort of the delirium that goes with a fever. Around day three, day four, I lost my sense of taste, my sense of smell,” he said in a virtual interview from his home.
Duplisea is in his 40s, does CrossFit and has spent the last year vaccinating hundreds in his community. At times, he’s taken the vaccine to them, giving the shot while they are in their vehicle or in their home, with approval.
But last week, he tested positive for the virus with a rapid screening test, and had the symptoms to prove it.
“I’m so happy that I had three vaccines, because I don’t know what would have happened. I’m certain I would have ended up in the hospital,” he said.
Duplisea said he had an immunity response after each dose of vaccine, and believes it’s what kept him out of the hospital.
Dr. Mark MacMillan, with the province’s medical society, says using the term “mild” when describing Omicron isn’t necessarily correct – because the variant is still putting people in hospital. He sees it first-hand.
“There are some people in hospital, yes, who have been fully vaccinated and who even had their booster, but those patients are not requiring intensive ICU care. They’re more requiring supportive care that can be done on a regular hospital bed floor. So while we do, again, recognized vaccines are not perfect, they are our best defence,” he said.
As of Tuesday, 192 people have died from the virus in the province.
“We do have deaths from COVID-19,” said Dr. MacMillan. “This does continue to happen. Hopefully not on a daily basis but the numbers at this point are too high. And regardless, any death of anyone is unacceptable when we have a vaccine that can help prevent that.”
Duplisea is technically out of isolation, but is still at home with lingering symptoms.
He had just written a column on how to treat COVID-19 symptoms while recovering at home. Days later, he had to use his own advice.
He says fluids are key and so is rest.
“I think all of us here in New Brunswick are at the point where we wonder if all of these restrictions are necessary or not, or can we just go on with our lives?” he said. “They are necessary. I mean, if you’re not vaccinated, you, in my opinion, have a really big risk. You’ve got to get that shot.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Train derailed in Sarnia after colliding with a truck
Police are investigating after a transport truck collided with a train in Sarnia.
Fewer medical students going into family medicine contributing to doctor shortage
As some family doctors are retiring and others are moving away from family medicine, there are fewer medical students to take their place.
'It's discriminatory': Individuals refused entry to Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
Individuals being barred from entering Ontario’s legislature while wearing a keffiyeh say the garment is part of their cultural identity— and the only ones making it political are the politicians banning it.
Bodies found by U.S. authorities searching for missing B.C. kayakers
United States authorities who have been searching for a pair of missing kayakers from British Columbia since the weekend have recovered two bodies in the nearby San Juan Islands of Washington state.