Some B.C. residents waiting weeks for vaccine records to update while top doctor says backlog isn't that bad
A day after CTV News first reported that some British Columbians were struggling to download their vaccine cards based on incomplete or incorrect records in the province’s immunization registry, more people have come forward saying they’re experiencing delays that have lasted nearly three weeks.
Janice Moore of Okanagan Falls said when she called in early September to request a paper version of her vaccine passport, she found out someone had inputted her second dose into the system incorrectly.
“Soon as I said June 10th and Moderna, there was dead silence,” Moore recalled. “And she said, that’s not what we have in our record.”
After several phone calls and a visit to the Services BC office, Moore was eventually able to have her record for dose two changed to reflect Moderna, rather than Pfizer, but said she was warned it could take four to five weeks for the provincial registry to catch up.
“They did explain why,” Moore said. “They are so far behind. So to me that indicates they’ve had a lot of problems.”
Including Moore, a dozen British Columbians have reached out to CTV News to report similar experiences and weeks-long wait times while trying to obtain their vaccine QR codes, now required to enter non-essential businesses such as restaurants and gyms.
LINK TO: https://bc.ctvnews.ca/some-b-c-residents-frustrated-by-weeks-long-wait-to-sync-vaccination-records-as-qr-codes-become-mandatory-1.5602292
Jean Stenhouse of West Vancouver said her 15-year-old daughter’s second dose, taken Aug. 1, was missing from her official record, which meant she could only download a card that read “partially vaccinated.”
Guy Davis in Vancouver wrote to say he and his wife had submitted records of their second doses, obtained in the U.K. in June, and were told verifying the records with the country of origin would take at least a month.
“We don’t understand why they are so unprepared, ill-equipped and understaffed given the forward planning that must have gone into…the implementation of the BC Vaccine Card,” Davis wrote in an email.
And Alex, also from Vancouver, who asked CTV News not to use his last name, said his second dose, which he received in early September, wasn’t showing up in his passport, though BC Services staff could see records of both jabs.
“I have done everything requested of me and I don’t understand why this error has occurred in the first place nor do I understand how it is so hard to fix,” he wrote.
When asked at a Tuesday news conference about what appeared to be a substantial backlog in processing these types of requests, B.C.’s top doctor said she was “surprised.”
“I know that there have been some (issues) that have been brought to my attention, but not a huge number,” Dr. Bonnie Henry said.
She encouraged people to “call the call centre” listed at https://immunizationrecord.gov.bc.ca and said “they can help you sort that out.”
“Early on there was a bit of a wait period. Now it’s much, much less,” Henry added, indicating those who had vaccination records in other languages might have particular difficulties and encouraged them to provide translations.
Henry also sidestepped a question about whether she could extend the deadline for using paper vaccine records until the backlog is cleared.
Meanwhile, Moore said she’ll be calling and checking diligently, and putting lunches with her friends or grandson on hold.
“It’s very frustrating and it does cause stress, which none of us need additional stress in our lives,” she said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'They needed people inside Air Canada:' Police announce arrests in Pearson gold heist
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
BREAKING Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter banned from NBA
Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter has been handed a lifetime ban from The National Basketball Association (NBA) following an investigation which found he disclosed confidential information to sports bettors, the league says.
WATCH LIVE As GC Strategies partner is admonished by MPs, RCMP confirms search warrant executed
The RCMP confirmed Wednesday it had executed a search warrant at an address registered to GC Strategies. This development comes as MPs are enacting an extraordinary, rarely used parliamentary power, summoning one of its contractors to appear before the House of Commons to be admonished publicly for failing to answer questions related to the ArriveCan app.
Disappointment widespread over budget's proposed $200-month disability benefit funding
Advocacy groups across Canada are expressing widespread disappointment about the amount of funding earmarked in the 2024 federal budget for the long-awaited Canada Disability Benefit.
Earthquake jolts southern Japan
An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.4 hit southern Japan late on Wednesday, said the Japan Meteorological Agency, without issuing a tsunami warning.
opinion Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster
A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government’s three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party’s popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election?
Woman who pressured boyfriend to kill his ex in 2000s granted absences from prison
A woman who pressured her boyfriend into killing his teenage ex more than a decade ago will be allowed to leave prison for weeks at a time.
Former Sask. massage therapist who sexually assaulted clients has day parole revoked
A former massage therapist who pleaded guilty to a string of sexual assaults has had his day parole revoked.