If you’re able to get a COVID-19 vaccine at a pharmacy near you, the top doctor in Interior Health says that is a good idea.
While making that comment, Dr. Albert de Villiers, also encouraged people over the age of 30 to register at a pharmacy as well as with the province.
“There are still two separate systems, so [lets say if you’re between 30 and 50], we’re not going to get there for the next few weeks with our regular campaign, I would suggest booking at a pharmacy is you’re living in some of those communities that actually have it,” he said. “Book in there as soon as possible.”
“Eventually, the plan is to get those systems to work a little bit closer. As soon as we get there, the information will be pulled into both systems, and you’ll be set for your second dose as well.”
Its not clear how many doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine will be available at these pharmacies in Kamloops, Kelowna, Lake Country, Penticton, Castlegar, Cranbrook, Vernon, and West Kelowna. That vaccine has been approved for use in people between the age of 30 and 65.
Getting an appointment at one of these pharmacies might be another challenge. A week’s worth of AstraZeneca vaccine appointments were completely booked at the Walmart pharmacy in Kamloops, a couple of hours after a social media post by Vaccine Hunters Canada.
“If you’ve been on a pharmacy waitlist, please connect with your pharmacy,” de Villiers said during a COVID-19 briefing on Friday. “As soon as we get more vaccine, hopefully we’ll be able to push it out to other pharmacies in other locations as well.”
This afternoon, Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry said health officials are considering shortening the four-month interval between the first and second COVID-19 vaccine doses as supply expected to ramp up this month.
“Everybody will get their vaccine and will get their turn, and that turn is coming soon,” she said.
“In some ways, we’ve been building a spaceship as we’ve been flying it and we’re now entering into a new era, a new warp speed if you will and there are bound to be bumps along the way. But we will adjust.”
According to the Government of Canada’s vaccine rollout webpage, B.C. will be receiving 274,950 vaccine doses this week, nearly double the 138,060 doses received last week.
With over a million doses coming this month, Henry also reiterated that the province expects to offer a COVID-19 vaccine to all people aged 16 and older by July 1, though it could be “significantly before that” she also said today.
“As we’re into this phase and we can open up more vaccines for more people, we’ll be able to start the second doses for more people sooner.”
Last week, Health Minister Adrian Dix said anyone over the age of 50 will be able to book a COVID vaccine appointment through the province’s age based system starting this Thursday. Currently, people 54 and older are can book an appointment.
If you are registered with both systems, health officials are reminding you to only book one appointment.
“If you’re registered with the pharmacy, you can still keep your registration on the other side as well. If your pharmacy runs out, you are in our registration, and you can also make sure you can book in there as soon as possible,” de Villiers said.
As of today, the province says 1,877,330 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine have been administered, including 91,731 second doses. That means just over 90,000 vaccine doses were administered over the past three days.
