COVID-19 booster shots offered to all British Columbians

British Columbia has announced the next steps in their COVID-19 immunization plan for communities across the province.

Booster shots have already been offered to individuals who are moderately to severely immunocompromised, and that invitation for a third dose is now being extended to include everyone.

People who received dose one and two, who would like a booster, can receive it between six to eight months after their dose two vaccination- timing depends on personal risk and interval from dose two.

Two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine is still considered to be fully immunized, and the third dose program will not impact the status for the BC Vaccine Card.

From September to December boosters are being offered to:

• Clinically extremely vulnerable (immunosuppressed)

• Rural and remote Indigenous communities

• Residents in long-term care and assisted living

• Seniors (starting 70+) and Indigenous Peoples (12+)

• Long-term home support clients and seniors in Independent living

• Health care workers - short interval of Dose1/Dose2

The estimated timeline for booster being offered to the general public will come about in January, but is subject to vaccine supply.

From January to May, 2022 boosters will be offered to:

• Clinically extremely vulnerable (non immunosuppressed)

• Health care workers in acute care and long-term care, assisted living

• Health care workers in the community

• All remaining eligible people (12+) between 6 to 8 months

Once children aged 5 to 11 are approved for the vaccine by Health Canada, the province is confident that they will have enough vaccine for both the booster shot program and the children’s program.

Vaccines offered to children will look a little different compared to those 12 and up, dosage will be much smaller for those in that age group and is a completely different formulation so adult doses will not be used on children.

A commitment has been made from Pfizer to the federal government to have that child formulation available as soon as it is approved for use by Health Canada.

The two options for the booster shot will be mRNA vaccines; either Moderna (Spikevax) or Pfizer (Comirnaty). When receiving your third dose, there is no need to align with the same vaccine you received for dose one and two.

Those who received AstraZeneca will be offered an mRNA vaccine for their booster.

Pharmacies will also be brought on board to support BC’s Immunization Program, and will help offer vaccinations in some communities.

In order to receive a booster, an individual must be registered in the Get Vaccinated System, drop-in’s will not be accepted for booster shots.

People who are registered in the system will be invited to book online when it is their turn, the provincial call centre 1-833-838-2323 will continue to be available for those who cannot access online booking.

“We are learning about what is the optimal schedule for this vaccine against this virus, and how this virus is mutating and changing over time. How long it takes for new strains to arise and how effective different dosages and intervals can be,” said Dr. Bonnie Henry.

“It may be that this third dose, this booster dose, gives longer lasting protection that may last for years. That is our hope, but we don't yet know that. We are going to be following the data around the world and that we’ll continue to follow here in BC to understand that better.”

“Right now, we know that from the studies that have been done by both Pfizer and Moderna around their booster doses that you get a good, strong, and quick antibody response when you get that booster dose,” explained Henry.