About 500,000 people in priority groups in B.C. — including residents of care homes, seniors living in the community, clinically extremely vulnerable people, and Indigenous peoples — have already received third doses of COVID-19 vaccine.By the end of this week, about 90 per cent of British Columbians age 70 and older will have been invited to book their boosters, Henry said.
The committee also called for Canadians ages 18 to 49 to get boosters six months after their second shot. Henry said the NACI recommendations “are very much aligned with the approach that is already underway here in British Columbia.” The province has taken a “risk-based approach” and the biggest risk factor for serious illness from COVID is age, she said.
Of 2,423 COVID cases from Nov. 29 to Dec. 5 in B.C., 54 per cent were unvaccinated, 41 per cent were fully vaccinated, and four per cent were partially vaccinated. After people age 65 and older all have their boosters, the province plans to focus on age cohorts in descending order. About 200 pharmacies are already involved in administering COVID-19 vaccines, while another 300 are expected to be added between Dec. 8 and 15. The goal is to have 1,000 involved by January.
As well, doses of Astra Zeneca are coming into the province this week. Those awaiting a second dose who aren’t contacted by the end of the week can call the Get Vaccinated call centre to be put on a list for that vaccine. Those who already have two doses of Astra Zeneca and want a booster mRNA vaccine are being contacted now, said Henry.