Some B.C. residents will be eligible for a 4th COVID-19 vaccine dose, officials say
Health officials in B.C. have announced that certain people in the province will be eligible to receive a fourth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
During a news conference on Tuesday, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said those who received a three-dose primary series will be eligible for an additional booster dose six months after their third dose.
This follows last week’s updated recommendations from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization, which suggested a booster dose for those who have completed a three-dose primary series.
Many who have received three doses so far in B.C. include those who are immunocompromised and those who are more prone to breakthrough cases that require hospitalization, such as older age groups.
Henry said that so far over 500,000 booster doses have been administered to the higher-risk priority groups.
“Since the beginning of the vaccination program and with this booster campaign, we have taken a risk-based approach and we know that the most important risk is age,” Henry said during the news conference.
Henry also noted that those who have received their second dose and are more vulnerable to breakthrough infections will be eligible to receive their booster doses first, as close to 6 months after their second dose as possible.
The province plans to roll out booster doses for the entire adult population within the next six to eight months.
Henry said that the next eligible group, those 65 and up who had their second dose at least six months prior, will start receiving invitations to book a booster dose by the end of this week or early next week.
Those remaining people who are not immunocompromised, but are in what health officials describe as a “clinically extremely vulnerable group” will also be invited to book a booster dose in the coming weeks.
After that, the province plans to roll out booster doses by age cohorts with those under 65 expected to be able to start booking appointments in early January.
“We know that this is a strategy that will allow us to tailor our clinics, to make sure we have the vaccine available for people, and that we’ll optimize the protection that you get from the primary series and get the booster dose at a time that optimizes the length of protection from the booster dose as well,” Henry said.
Henry also announced that the province has partnered with several pharmacies in B.C. who will deliver the booster doses.
A list of locations will be available for those booking their booster dose through the province’s online Get Vaccinated System.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
Documents reveal Ottawa's efforts to get Loblaw, Walmart on board with grocery code
It was evident to the federal government as early as last fall that Loblaw and Walmart might be holdouts to the grocery code of conduct, jeopardizing the project's success.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Improve balance and build core strength with this exercise
When it comes to cardiovascular fitness, you may tend to focus on activities that move you forward, such as walking, running and cycling.
'I just want to be safe': Ukrainian man in Canada faces limbo amid consular freeze
A recent decision to restrict consular services for fighting-aged Ukrainian men has made a Ukrainian man in Canada feel less certain of his next steps — and worried he could be pulled back to the war.
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Dozens of U.S. deaths reveal risks of injecting sedatives into people restrained by police
The practice of giving sedatives to people detained by police has spread quietly across the U.S. over the last 15 years, built on questionable science and backed by police-aligned experts, an investigation led by The Associated Press has found.