B.C.'s vaccine passport requirement updated so 12-year-olds only need one dose
The government has promised to address an oversight in the B.C. Vaccine Card program that left some children excluded from movie theatres and restaurants after turning 12.
Currently, everyone 12 and older must be fully vaccinated to enter any settings that require proof of vaccination, including stadiums, gyms and skating rinks.
That's created problems for children who received their first dose of pediatric vaccine at age 11 – when they were exempt from the B.C. Vaccine Card system – and celebrated their 12th birthday before they became eligible for another shot.
On Friday, the Ministry of Health acknowledged receiving reports of those kids suddenly being "blocked from entry" at various venues and businesses, and said the issue will be resolved through updated provincial health orders decreasing the requirement to a single dose for 12-year-olds.
"This change is aimed at fairness for this age group, while they are waiting for the recommended time to receive their second dose," the ministry said in a statement.
The province only began vaccinating children between the ages of five and 11 on Nov. 29, and the recommended interval between shots is eight weeks. That means only children who received their first dose within the first few days of eligibility would be up for their second shot by now.
So far, 51 per cent of children under age 12 have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
Last week, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry also announced the B.C. Vaccine Card program, which was originally scheduled to last until the end of January, was being extended for another five months, citing the ongoing risks posed by COVID-19.
"Even now with Omicron, some people are at much greater risk of hospitalizations and severe illness, and we need to bear that in mind," Henry said at the time.
"The B.C. Vaccine Card program is specifically designed to address and mitigate those risks (and) allow us to keep certain businesses and activities open."
The system is now scheduled to remain in place until June 30, unless the situation improves before then.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Security guard shot, seriously injured outside of Drake's Toronto mansion
A security guard working at Drake’s Bridle Path mansion in Toronto was seriously injured in a shooting outside the residence early Tuesday morning, police said.
King Charles too busy to see son Prince Harry during U.K. trip
Prince Harry will not be seeing his father King Charles during his current visit to Britain as the monarch will be too busy, Harry's spokesperson said on Tuesday.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Turfing Poilievre from House a clear sign of desperation by Trudeau Liberals
When Speaker Greg Fergus tossed out Pierre Poilievre from the House last week, "those of us who have experience as parliamentarians simply couldn't believe our eyes," writes former NDP leader Tom Mulcair in his column for CTVNews.ca
Your body needs these three forms of movement every week
Movement is movement, right? Not exactly. Here’s what your body is looking for in addition to your morning walk or yoga session, according to experts.
Six Canadian children repatriated from detention in Syria, Global Affairs Canada says
The Global Affairs Department says six Canadian children have been repatriated from detention in northeastern Syria.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man pays $7,700 for luxury villa found on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he paid more than $7,700 for a luxury villa he found on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.
Quebec to limit sperm donations per donor after 3 men from same family father hundreds of children
Quebec is looking at tightening the regulations around sperm donation in the province following the release of a documentary that revealed three men from the same family fathered hundreds of children.
Canadian cadets rock mullets and place second at U.S. military competition
Sporting mullets, Canadian Armed Forces officer cadets placed second in an annual military skills competition in the U.S.
TikTok sues to block prospective U.S. app ban
TikTok sued Tuesday to block a U.S. law that could force a nationwide ban of the popular app, following through on legal threats the company issued after President Joe Biden signed the legislation last month.