COVID vaccinations for seniors begin in March

BC Government has announced the beginning of the second phase of the COVID-19 vaccination plan in which 400,000 people will be immunized.

Those who will receive the vaccine in March and early April include seniors and high-risk people residing in independent living and seniors’ supportive housing, including staff.

Home-care support clients and staff, Indigenous people, and seniors above the age of 65 will be given the vaccine in this second phase.

On March 1, 2021, first-dose immunizations begin for those living and working in independent living centres and seniors’ supportive housing, as well as home-care support clients and staff.

Health authorities will directly contact those in this priority group to book appointments – no need to call.

Beginning March 8, 2021, seniors aged 80+ and Indigenous peoples aged 65+ who are not living in independent living or seniors’ supportive housing can call to book their appointment through their local health authority call centre according to a staggered schedule.

This is to avoid long waits and system overload.

Here is a breakdown of immunization plan

March 8, 2021: Seniors born in or before 1931 (90 years+) and Indigenous people born in or before 1956 (65 years+) may call to book their vaccine appointment;

March 15, 2021: Seniors born in or before 1936 (85 years+) may call to book their vaccine appointment; and

March 22, 2021: Seniors born in or before 1941 (80 years+) may call to book their vaccine appointment.

More than 400,000 people in British Columbia will be immunized from March to early April as the Province moves into Phase 2 of the largest immunization rollout in B.C.’s history.

In mid-April, Phase 3 will begin mass vaccination of people aged 79 to 60 years, and people aged 16+ who are extremely clinically vulnerable, at community immunization clinics throughout B.C.

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