FILE PHOTO - Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED / Province of B.C.
October 26, 2021 - 1:30 PM
With almost 90% of B.C. residents now being fully vaccinated, people can now start getting a third shot as a booster.
That announcement was made at a press technical briefing today, Oct. 26, held by Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and other health care and Ministry of Health officials.
Booster shots have already been offered to people with certain health conditions or who are considered clinically extremely vulnerable.
Boosters will be offered, first, to those 70 years and older and move down to younger ages, similar to how the original vaccine program was run after vaccines first became widely available earlier this year.
People will be invited to make appointments based on age and how long since their second dose, with the aim of booster doses being given six to eight months after second doses. Those who had a short interval between first and second doses will also be eligible earlier since their immunity does not last as long as those who had longer intervals between doses.
Those under 70 are expected to be eligible starting in mid-January. Vaccines are expected to be approved for children aged five to 11 within the next few weeks.
The booster doses are recommended for the groups targeted initially but it may be more optional for the rest of the younger population when they become eligible next year.
The third doses should give much longer protection than two doses and there is some research indicating that the immunization could last for years or may even be permanent.
Indigenous communities will be offered boosters on a community-wide basis, which has already started.
One difference between the earlier rollout is that pharmacies can now register through B.C.’s Get Vaccinated program so they can offer booster shots.
People who are registered on the Get Vaccinated website should be able to book appointments with eligible pharmacies online.
Pfizer and Moderna will be offered for the booster doses, no matter what the first two doses were.
People will still be welcomed to drop into vaccine clinics to get their first dose of vaccine but those getting their second and third doses will be asked to register.
READ MORE: One-third of unvaccinated B.C. health workers in Interior Health as deadline arrives
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