Province continuing vaccination efforts to keep people protected

Starting April 8th, the province will have additional free COVID-19 vaccines available, for those at a higher risk of severe illness.

The spring COVID-19 vaccine will be available throughout the province at roughly 400 pharmacies, as well as regional health-authority clinics, some primary-care offices, community health centres, long-term care homes and First Nations communities.

“While the peak of respiratory illnesses has passed, influenza, COVID-19 and RSV are still here, and we must continue to practise healthy habits to keep illnesses from spreading.” said Dr. Bonnie Henry, provincial health officer for British Columbia.

Public health units will also have vaccine available for children under 12.

“For people at the highest risk of serious illness, an extra dose of the COVID-19 vaccine can boost their immunity through the spring and summer,” said Josie Osborne, Minister of Health.

“That’s why notifications to priority populations will go out starting April 8.”

They recommend that the following people receive an additional dose of COVID-19 vaccine this spring:

• adults 65 years and older, with a particular focus on people over 80 years
• Indigenous adults 55 years and older
• adult residents of long-term care homes and assisted-living facilities (including those awaiting placement)
• individuals six months and older who have been diagnosed as clinically extremely vulnerable (a CEV 1 or CEV 2)

Notifications to book appointments will be sent out to priority populations beginning April 8th with the spring vaccine program ending June 30th.

The province also encourages people in BC to check their immunization records to ensure they are up to date with their measles immunization, as measles case numbers rise.

More detailed information can be found on the province’s website here.