The B.C. Government has released new infographics that inform people when they may book their vaccine appointment during Phase 2 of its COVID-19 immunization plan.
The Province has announced that seniors aged 80+ and Indigenous peoples aged 65+ will be able to book their vaccine appointment in March, following the province's age-based booking schedule.
Vaccine call centres for seniors open March 8, 2021. You can book a vaccine appointment for yourself or your spouse. You can also have a family member or friend call for you.
Additionally, health officials encourage the public to reach out to people they know who are eligible to book their vaccine appointment and help them arrange it.
BC seniors aged 80+ and Indigenous peoples aged 65+ will be able to book their vaccine appointment in March, following our age-based booking schedule.
— BC Government News (@BCGovNews) March 1, 2021
Reach out to someone in your life who is eligible and help them get vaccinated. Learn more: https://t.co/Q3MCaiLLyP #CovidBC pic.twitter.com/nOReyTw8l8
When you can call is based on your age
I'm born in 1931 or earlier (90+) or I'm Indigenous and born in 1956 or earlier (65+)
Please call the week of March 8.
I'm born in 1936 or earlier (85+)
Please call the week of March 15.
I'm born in 1941 or earlier (80+)
Please call the week of March 22.
Highest-risk people in B.C. communities
You do not need to call to book a vaccine appointment if you're:
- A senior or high-risk person living in independent living or senior’s supportive housing
- Staff in independent living or senior’s supportive housing
- Home-care support clients and staff
Your health authority will reach out to you or your housing operator to book your appointment for you or organize a mobile clinic.
If you're a senior born in 1941 or earlier or an Indigenous (First Nations, Métis and Inuit) person born in 1956 or earlier and you don't live in independent living, you will have to call to book a vaccine appointment over the phone.
BC's COVID-19 Immunization Plan focuses on saving lives and protecting the highest-risk people in our community. We are now moving into Phase 2 of our plan focused on protecting more seniors.
— BC Government News (@BCGovNews) March 1, 2021
Learn more: https://t.co/06X2YR2YO5#CovidBC pic.twitter.com/6aXFRnJv9X
B.C. extends the gap between vaccine doses to 16 weeks as rollout accelerates
The province is dramatically extending the interval between the first and second COVID-19 vaccine doses in a bid to accelerate immunization plans for British Columbians.
Pfizer Inc. and Moderna Inc. both recommend intervals of three to four weeks between their first and second doses. B.C. has been administering doses 42 days apart since January.
But effective Monday (March 1) that interval is being extended to 16 weeks — or 112 days — with the province citing data that shows vaccines proving to be effective for at least four months after a single dose.
Younger people who would have been scheduled for their first dose in the summer would now be getting their first dose likely in the spring.
With files from Tyler Orton/Glacier Media
