(flickr.com)

Media Contacts

Ministry of Health

Communications
250 952-1887 (media line)

Backgrounders

Immunization eligibility

Age-based program

Anyone 18 years or older may now register through the Get Vaccinated online system.

Appointments are now being made for people 59 and older, Indigenous people 18 and older, as well as people who have received a letter indicating they are clinically vulnerable.

First responder and worker program

Health authorities are contacting workplaces to arrange for workers to be vaccinated. This program continues to be phased in, focusing on communities that are at highest risk.

AstraZeneca pharmacy program

In addition to the age-based and worker programs, vaccinations are expanding for people aged 30 and up who are now also eligible to receive their AstraZeneca vaccine at participating pharmacies, with supply. This is being done after a careful review of the evidence that initially led to a pause in the expanded AstraZeneca vaccine program for younger workers.

Participating pharmacies are listed on the BC Pharmacy Association website: https://www.bcpharmacy.ca/resource-centre/covid-19/vaccination-locations

High-transmission communities

In addition, specific AstraZeneca vaccine clinics will be established in the 16 communities with the highest identified in-community transmission. People 30 and older who reside in those communities will be able to get vaccinated there. For a complete list of the 16 communities, as well as information to assist in determining if you reside in one of these communities, go to: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/covid-19/vaccine/neighbourhood

Anyone 30 and older in the following community health service areas can also be vaccinated at several specific clinics that are being set up. The service areas include:

  • Brittania Beach
  • D'arcy
  • Dawson Creek
  • East Newton
  • Fleetwood
  • Kensington
  • North Delta
  • North Surrey
  • Panorama
  • Pinecrest Estates
  • Port Coquitlam
  • South Langley Township
  • Squamish
  • Whalley
  • West Abbotsford
  • West Newton

People living in these communities must register for their vaccine appointments using the Province’s Get Vaccinated registration and booking tool and will be invited to book an appointment on the same day they register. The fastest way to register and book is online:https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/covid-19/vaccine/register

People can confirm whether they live in a high-transmission neighbourhood prioritized for immunization by entering their postal code: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/covid-19/vaccine/neighbourhood

Only those with eligible postal codes will be able to receive a vaccine through the high-transmission neighbourhood program.

Assisted-living, long-term care homes, seniors’ rental buildings and acute-care facilities with ongoing COVID-19 outbreaks

Assisted-living, long-term care homes, seniors’ rental buildings:

Vancouver Coastal Health – no facilities

Fraser Health – two facilities

  • Dufferin Care Centre (second occurrence)
  • Sunset Manor (third occurrence)

Northern Health – one facility

  • Acropolis Manor (second occurrence)

Interior Health – three facilities

  • Cottonwoods Care Centre
  • Orchard Haven
  • Sandalwood Retirement Resort

Island Health – two facilities

  • Craigdarroch Care Home
  • Mount St. Mary

Acute-care facilities:

  • Abbotsford Regional Hospital
  • Dawson Creek and District Hospital
  • Nanaimo Regional General Hospital
  • Prince Rupert Regional Hospital
  • Surrey Memorial Hospital
  • Vancouver General Hospital
  • UBC Hospital