Vaccination schedule for British Columbians . . .

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Immunization in B.C.
Covid 19 Immunization Plan

https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/public-safety-and-emergency-services/emergency-preparedness-response-recovery/gdx/vaccines_we_are_in.png

Cost

The COVID-19 vaccine is free for everyone living in B.C. who is eligible to receive it.

Storage and delivery

B.C. is continually preparing for the ongoing storage and delivery of vaccines. Some vaccines require special transportation, storage and handling and must be kept at ultra-low temperatures.

Dose requirement

Currently, all approved COVID-19 vaccines in Canada require two doses of vaccine per person.

When vaccine supplies are limited, the time between first and second doses will be extended so more people can receive their first dose, increasing the benefit of limited vaccine supplies. The World Health Organization and the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) support up to 42 days between doses.

The BCCDC is best source for the latest guidelines on first and second dose timelines.
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Moving between phases

The timeline for B.C.’s COVID-19 Vaccination Plan is dependent on vaccine supply and availability. The federal government is working to obtain as much vaccine as possible to distribute to provinces and territories.

It's important to understand the timeline for each phase may change due to vaccine availability. All people in B.C. recommended to receive the vaccine will have the opportunity to get it in 2021.

You will not miss your chance to the get the vaccine when a new phase starts. Once you become eligible, you are always eligible. For example:

If you are in Phase 2, you can get the vaccine in Phase 3 or Phase 4
If you are in Phase 3, you can get the vaccine in Phase 4

Progress to date

Phase 1 (Current phase)
Timeline: December 2020 to February 2021

~ Residents and staff of long-term care facilities
~ Individuals assessed for and awaiting long-term care
~ Residents and staff of assisted living residences
~ Essential visitors to long-term care facilities and assisted living residences
~ Hospital health care workers who may provide care for COVID-19 patients in settings like Intensive Care Units, emergency departments, paramedics, medical units and surgical units
~ Remote and isolated Indigenous communities

Phase 2
Timeline: February to March 2021

~ Seniors aged 80 and over who are not immunized in Phase 1
~ Indigenous (First Nations, Métis and Inuit) seniors age 65 and over, Elders and additional Indigenous communities not immunized in Phase 1
~ Hospital staff, community general practitioners (GPs) and medical specialists not immunized in Phase 1
~ Vulnerable populations living and working in select congregated settings
~ Staff in community home support and nursing services for seniors


Phase 3 and Phase 4: General population immunization

Vaccination for the general population runs April to September 2021. Vaccines will primarily be distributed in five year age increments, starting with the 79 to 75 age group. Monthly breakdowns for the first dose (D1) and second dose (D2) are estimates and may change based on vaccine availability.

Phase 3
Timeline: April to June 2021

People aged 79 to 60, in five year increments:
~ 79 to 75 (D1 April, D2 May)
~ 74 to 70 (D1 April/May, D2 May/June)
~ 69 to 65 (D1 May/June, D2 June/July)
~ 64 to 60 (D1 June, D2 July)
~ People aged 69 to 16 who are clinically extremely vulnerable (D1 and D2 April/June)

People who are clinically extremely vulnerable <=== list

Note: Once additional vaccines are approved and become available, people between the ages of 18 and 64 who are front-line essential workers or work in specific workplaces or industries may be included in the later part of Phase 3.

Phase 4
Timeline: July to September 2021

People aged 59 to 18, in five year increments:
~ 59 to 55 (D1 July, D2 August)
~ 54 to 50 (D1 July, D2 August)
~ 49 to 45 (D1 July, D2 August)
~ 44 to 40 (D1 July, D2 August)
~ 39 to 35 (D1 July/August, D2 August/September)
~ 34 to 30 (D1 August, D2 September)
~ 29 to 25 (D1 August/September, D2 September)
~ 24 to 18 (D1 and D2 September)

Register to get immunized

Immunization clinics

Immunization clinics are being organized in 172 communities in B.C and will be overseen by your local health authority. The clinics will be held at large centres including:

School gymnasiums
Arenas
Convention halls
Community halls

Mobile clinics in self-contained vehicles will be available for some rural communities and for people who are homebound due to mobility issues.

Immunization clinics details will be available before Phase 3 of B.C.'s Immunization Plan.

Starting in mid-to-late February, health authorities will be reaching out to seniors aged 80 years and older, Indigenous seniors aged 65 years and older, and Indigenous Elders to provide information on how to register for immunization appointments. We will be providing an update on this process in the coming weeks.

How to get immunized

The process to get immunized will happen in three steps. More details about the registration process will be made available in late February.
Step 1: Registration

Registration will help us book appointments quickly and easily. When it's time for you to register, you will select your preferred method of communication. This is how we will contact you to book a vaccine appointment.

Registration opens March 2021. There will be two options to register:

Online
By phone

Step 2: Make an appointment

When you are contacted to make a vaccine appointment, you will be asked to:

Complete a pre-screening
Select a location, date and time

You will be able to make your appointment online or by phone.

Step 3: Appointment day

Come prepared to your appointment and arrive a few minutes before your scheduled time. At the immunization clinic you will:

Complete a check-in process
Get your vaccine dose
Wait in an observation area for about 15 minutes

Getting the second dose

People who get their first vaccine dose will be notified by email, text or phone call when they are eligible to book an appointment for their second dose.

Proof of immunization

You will have the option to receive a paper and digital copy of your immunization record card. We recommend registering for Health Gateway, where your digital immunization record card will be available only after you receive the vaccine.

Note: Health Gateway is not a source of vaccine or immunization information.

Your immunization record will be also be stored in the online provincial database, accessible to you, public health and your doctor.

Example of a paper immunization record card:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/public-safety-and-emergency-services/emergency-preparedness-response-recovery/gdx/bccdc-covid-vaccination-card-sample-both-sides.png

Community immunity
Vaccines do more than protect you from COVID-19, they also protect everyone around you. The more people in a community who are immunized against COVID-19, the harder it is for the virus to spread.

Community (herd) immunity could be reached when a large majority of people in B.C. are immunized against COVID-19. When you choose to be vaccinated against COVID-19, you are helping save lives by protecting your household and your entire community from the virus.
Lifting restrictions

Lifting current restrictions will be based on many factors, including:

Number of people immunized and level of community immunity
Number of COVID-19 cases in the province
Health care system capacity

Layers of protection

Going back to normal life will take time. Even if you have received the vaccine, you must follow provincial health orders and protect others by:

Washing your hands
Staying home when sick and getting tested
Keeping a safe distance from others
Wearing a mask in public indoor spaces

Together, we can keep each other safe.
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Need help?

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