Image Credit: ADOBE STOCK

The B.C. government has released more details about the new COVID-19 vaccine card system set to begin next week.

The details were announced today, Sept. 7, at a news conference.

A person simply needs to go to gov.bc.ca/vaccinecard to sign up for the card. Or they can phone 1-833-838-2323 to set one up and arrange to have it printed. People will need to provide their personal health number, date of birth and date of vaccine, either first or second.

People will need to show proof of one dose of vaccine by Sept. 13 and two doses by Oct. 24 to get into many public venues, like concerts and restaurants.

“Getting vaccinated is the proven choice to protect ourselves and the people around us,” provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said in a news release. “The requirement for proof of vaccine will make our communities safer and also ensure that events and gatherings are safer for all of us.”

People can show the card on their phones when they enter a venue or have a printed version, which contains a QR code that businesses or event organizers can scan. If they’re over the age of 19, they will need to show one piece of identification as well to verify their identity.

Image Credit: SUBMITTED / Province of B.C.

Business can download an app onto their phones to read the codes. The app will be available on Sept. 13.

READ MORE: 'How dare you': Healthcare workers react to rally against COVID vaccine cards at Kelowna General

Visitors from outside B.C. will also need to show proof of vaccinations

The cards are seen as a temporary measure but will stay in place, at least, until Jan. 31. Part of the reason for the card being implemented is to encourage people to get vaccinated so, if the vaccination rates go up and infections settle down, rules on things like masking and size of gatherings might be eased before then.

Tickets can be issued to individuals, owners and operators of locations and event organizers. Individuals can be fined $575 but that's not likely to happen unless they are being disruptive. Businesses can be fined $2,300 and can be repeatedly fined if they continue to disobey.

The president of the Canadian Police Association says his group will be paying close attention to the province's plans for enforcement.

Tom Stamatakis has said it is unrealistic to suggest police could respond every time a patron refuses to provide vaccination status because that would stretch police resources and potentially affect responses to other calls.

READ MORE: As B.C. prepares for vaccine passports, study breaks down reasons for opposition

Currently 85.1% of people over the age of 12 are vaccinated. Unvaccinated people are 12 times more likely to contract COVID-19, 34 times more likely to be hospitalized and eight times more likely to die of COVID.

The latest data from the B.C. Centre for Disease Control shows the province has 671 new cases of COVID-19 and 5,872 active cases of the virus.

The vaccine cards will be needed to attend:

• Indoor ticketed sporting events
• Indoor concerts, theatre, dance and symphony events
• Licensed restaurants, and those offering table service (indoor and outdoor dining). This does not include fast food restaurants where, for the most part, people take food away.
• Pubs, bars and lounges (indoor and outdoor dining)
• Night clubs, casinos, movie theatres
• Fitness centres/gyms/adult sports (indoor)
• Indoor group exercise activities
• Organized indoor events with 50 or more people (e.g., wedding receptions
• Organized parties, conferences, workshops)
• Discretionary organized indoor group recreational classes and activities.

— With files from The Canadian Press.

–  This story was updated at 3:20 p.m. Sept. 7, 2021 to add comments from Premier Horgan.

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