Dr. Bonnie Henry May 11, 2020.

Image Credit: SUBMITTED/BC government

B.C.'s immunization program is moving beyond long-term care homes and into the general population, leaving many to wonder where they may fall into the queue and how they get their vaccine.

Right now, in Phase 2, the focus is on seniors aged 80-plus who were not immunized in Phase 1, Indigenous peoples, hospital staff, community general practitioners and medical specialists not immunized in Phase 1. It will also be given to vulnerable populations living and working in select congregated settings, staff in community home support and nursing services for seniors.

Phase 3 is for the general population and is expected to roll out from April to June 2021, though the timeline may change based on vaccine availability.

READ MORE: Vaccines to arrive earlier thanks to the decision to delay second dose

• First up will be people aged 79 to 60, in five-year increments
• If you're aged 79 to 75; Dose 1: April/ Dose 2: May
• Aged 74 to 70; D1: April/D2: May
• Aged 69 to 65; D1: May or June/D2: June or July
• Aged 64 to 60; D1: June/D2: July
• Aged 69 to 16 who are clinically extremely vulnerable; D1/D2 April-June

As additional vaccines are approved and become available, people who are front-line essential workers or work in specific workplaces or industries may receive vaccines later in Phase 3 and into Phase 4.

Phase 4 is for the period from July to September 2021, and is for people aged 59 to 18, in five-year increments.

• People aged 59 to 55; D1: July/D2: August
• Aged 54 to 50; D1: July/D2: August
• Aged 49 to 45; D1: July/D2: August
• Aged 44 to 40; D1: July/D2: August
• Aged 39 to 35; D1: July or August/D2: August or September
• Aged 34 to 30; D1: August/D2: September
• Aged 29 to 25; D1: August or September/D2: September
• Aged 24 to 18; D1/D2: September

British Columbians aged 69 to 16 with the following conditions will be eligible for earlier immunization in Phase 3 as they are deemed clinically extremely vulnerable:

• solid organ transplant recipients
• people with specific cancers:
• people with cancer who are undergoing active chemotherapy
•  people with lung cancer who are undergoing radical radiotherapy
• people with cancers of the blood or bone marrow, such as leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma who are at any stage of treatment
• people having immunotherapy or other continuing antibody treatments for cancer
• people having other targeted cancer treatments that can affect the immune system, such as protein kinase inhibitors or PARP (Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase) inhibitors
• people who have had bone marrow or stem cell transplants in the last six months or who are still taking immunosuppression drugs
• people with severe respiratory conditions including all cystic fibrosis, severe asthma and severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• people with rare diseases that significantly increase the risk of infections, such as severe combined immunodeficiency, homozygous sickle cell disease
• people on immunosuppression therapies enough to significantly increase risk of infection (biologic modifiers, high dose steroids, AZT, cyclophosphamide)
• people who had a splenectomy (spleen removed)
• adults with very significant developmental disabilities that increase risk (details to come)
• adults on dialysis or with chronic kidney disease (stage 5)
• women who are pregnant with significant heart disease, congenital or acquired
• significant neuromuscular conditions requiring respiratory support

When the time comes for you to get a vaccine, there are a few things you need to know. First, don't call until around the time it's your turn. The aim is to not overwhelm the call centre.

Also, you should have some information readily available when you call into call centres being set up by health region, across the province. In Interior Health, the number is 1-877-740-7747.

The call centre will ask for your legal name, date of birth, postal code and personal health number from the back of B.C. driver's licences or B.C. services cards.

They will also need your current contact information, including an email address you or your family checks regularly or a phone number that can receive text messages.

Call centres will never ask people for financial information, including credit card details.

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