The province plans to roll out a new new bivalent COVID-19 vaccine as part of its fall vaccination campaign.
B.C.’s provincial health officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry says certain people will receive an invitation to book an appointment to receive their COVID booster shot later this week, as soon as the supplies arrive for the Moderna bivalent vaccine.
Health Canada approved the Moderna Bi-Valent vaccine on September 1, which it is said to be the most effective at protecting people against all of the Omicron sub variants.
This comes as the province anticipates another wave of COVID to begin making its way across the province sometime in November or December.
“We do still have a very uncertain trajectory of the pandemic in the next few months and while I do believe we are emerging from the pandemic part of it, it is clear that COVID-19 will be with us for the long term,” said Dr. Henry.
Dr. Henry says with uncertainties regarding new COVID-19 variants potentially emerging, she explains its important the province takes the right steps to manage the spread.
“We are not yet at a point where we can let our guard down.”
Fall vaccine program eligibility via/Government of BC
Dr. Henry says the bivalent vaccine will be offered for all adults 18 and older, as well as 12 to 17 year old’s with health risks, including those who are immunosuppressed, have a chronic illness or other vulnerabilities.
Meanwhile she explains that 12 to 17 year old’s with no health risks will be administered regular COVID-19 vaccines, and 5 to 11 year old’s will receive the Pfizer Pediatric vaccine.
The province estimates around 58% of those in the 5 to 12 range have received at least one dose of a COVID shot to this point.
The rollout of the fall vaccine program will be based on the point at which you received your last shot, and whether you became infected in between then.
Anyone who had their last shot over 6-months previous will be eligible for the fall program.
But those who had COVID are asked to wait at least 3-months before getting their next vaccination.
BC Health Authorities, including Interior Health, will be establishing mass vaccination clinics, with plans to run them from later on in September, through toward the end of November.
The BC Government estimates it will be able to process between 250,000 to 280,000 people through these mass vaccination clinics per-week.
From there, pharmacies will pick up the slack, administering shots to those who want them.
