By Pioneer Staff
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As the province moves ahead of schedule with its COVID-19 immunization plan, more than 300,000 front-line workers will soon be eligible for vaccines against COVID-19.
“We know how challenging this pandemic has been on our front-line workers,” said B.C. Premier John Horgan. “Many of these people have come to work throughout this pandemic, continuing to teach and care for our children, stock the shelves of our local grocery store and keep our communities safe. By immunizing these front-line workers, we are making workplaces and communities throughout our province safer.”
People in priority groups include; first responders (police, firefighters, emergency transport); K-12 educational staff; child care staff; grocery store workers; postal workers; bylaw and quarantine officers; manufacturing workers; wholesale/warehousing employees; staff living in congregate housing at places such as ski hills; correctional facilities staff; and cross-border transport staff.
The Pfizer and Moderna vaccine rollouts are accelerating and progressing ahead of schedule.“Our age-based rollout is ahead of schedule and with the AstraZeneca/SII supply arriving, we can protect people working in specific, front-line industries,” said Adrian Dix, B.C. Minister of Health.
Update vaccination rollout schedule
Every senior born in 1945 or before (76 years old and over) and Indigenous peoples born in or before 1956 (65 years old and over) are eligible to book a vaccination appointment by Thursday, March 25, at noon. People born in 1946 (75 years and over) can call from Saturday, March 27 at noon.
To book your appointment, contact the call centre of the Interior health at 1-877-740-7747. The call centre is open seven days per week, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The B.C. Ministry of Health will be able to provide the COVID-19 vaccine to everyone who qualifies for the vaccine sooner than expected. “On our current age-based trajectory, everyone who is eligible for a vaccine will have access to a vaccine before July 1, 2021. This is encouraging news for all of us.” said Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.’s provincial health officer, in a joint statement regarding updates on the COVID-19 response in B.C.
Vaccination appointments during Phase 3 are expected to be available for the first dosage in April through May for people aged between 79 to 60, Indigenous peoples 18+, people aged 69 to 16 who are considered clinically extremely vulnerable and priority front-line workers.
Current projections indicate that the fourth phase of B.C.’s vaccination plan will begin by the end of May with people over the age of 59 to 40 and by June for people aged 39 moving down to 18.
For the most up-to-date information on the B.C.’s vaccination plan, please regularly visit https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/covid-19/vaccine as the information is continually evolving.
