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
NEW After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
BREAKING Police cordon off Iran consulate in Paris where man threatens to blow himself up: French media
French police cordoned off the Iranian consulate in Paris on Friday, where a man was threatening to blow himself up, Europe 1 radio and BFM TV.
Some Canadian families will receive up to $620 per child today
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.
BREAKING Iran fires at apparent Israeli attack drones near Isfahan air base and nuclear site
An apparent Israeli drone attack on Iran saw troops fire air defences at a major air base and a nuclear site early Friday morning near the central city of Isfahan, an assault coming in retaliation for Tehran's unprecedented drone-and-missile assault on the country.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Ottawa to force banks to call carbon rebate a carbon rebate in direct deposits
Canadian banks that refuse to identify the carbon rebate by name when doing direct deposits are forcing the government to change the law to make them do it, says Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault.
Ontario woman loses $15,000 to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
After COVID, WHO defines disease spread 'through air'
The World Health Organization and around 500 experts have agreed for the first time on what it means for a disease to spread through the air, in a bid to avoid the confusion early in the COVID-19 pandemic that some scientists have said cost lives.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.