B.C. expecting to have all eligible residents boosted by end of March
Health officials in B.C. are planning to get booster doses in the arms of all residents over the age of 18 by the end of March, as the province deals with a surge in COVID-19 cases.
During a news conference on Tuesday, Health Minister Adrian Dix said the province has been successful in ramping up the rollout of its booster campaign, meaning that all eligible residents are expected to receive their dose by March 31, a month earlier than expected.
Dix credited this to the fact that health authorities now operating at 35 per cent more capacity than previously announced at the end of October.
Several additional clinics have now been secured across the province to administer booster doses, including the Vancouver Convention Centre, which will serve the Lower Mainland.
The province said there is potential for 130,000 shots to be administered during the month of January at that location.
With more clinic expansion continuing to happen throughout the health authorities, vaccination capacity is expected to increase by 62 per cent starting in January, while pharmacy capacity is also expected to increase next month.
“The increase in capacity will allow an accelerated booster program and ensure wait time remain reasonable,” Dix said during the news conference.
B.C. is continuing its booster dose rollout with a risk-based approach, giving priority to those most at-risk of severe illness and death.
Those groups include those over 65, health-care workers, and those who received two doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
Earlier this month, residents over age 65 started receiving invitations to book booster appointments.
“This age-based rollout will continue at an accelerated pace with invites sent out when appointments can be guaranteed,” Dix said.
As of Sunday, 67 per cent of those over age 70 received their booster dose, while more than 50 per cent of those over age 65 had received theirs.
The province said Tuesday all those over age 50 should receive invitations to book their booster dose by the end of January or earlier.
As of Sunday, health officials said 727,761 booster doses had been administered to those who are eligible.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Pilot reported fire onboard plane carrying fuel, attempted to return to Fairbanks just before crash
One of the two pilots aboard an airplane carrying fuel reported there was a fire on the airplane shortly before it crashed and burned outside Fairbanks, killing both people on board, a federal aviation official said Wednesday.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
7 surveillance videos linked to extortions of South Asian home builders in Edmonton released
The Edmonton Police Service has released a number of surveillance videos related to a series of extortion cases in the city now dubbed 'Project Gaslight.'
Ukraine uses long-range missiles secretly provided by U.S. to hit Russian-held areas, officials say
Ukraine for the first time has begun using long-range ballistic missiles provided secretly by the United States, bombing a Russian military airfield in Crimea last week and Russian forces in another occupied area overnight, American officials said Wednesday.
Manitoba government tables bill to end ban on homegrown recreational cannabis
Manitoba is planning to lift its ban on the home growing of recreational cannabis.