Close X
Saturday, November 23, 2024
ADVT 
National

B.C. prioritizes clinically vulnerable for vaccine

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 23 Mar, 2021 11:16 PM
  • B.C. prioritizes clinically vulnerable for vaccine

The British Columbia government says it is accelerating the timeline for the COVID-19 vaccine once again, allowing people who are "extremely clinically vulnerable" and some seniors to book their shots earlier than expected.

The Ministry of Health says in a news release that people at higher risk from COVID-19 due to existing medical conditions, including transplant recipients and those with cancer and severe respiratory conditions, will be able to register for their vaccine beginning next Monday.

This group of people was originally scheduled to receive their shots in Phase 3 starting in April, but Health Minister Adrian Dix says the province has made tremendous progress on its age-based program and has additional vaccine supply.

The release says the new timeline means that about 200,000 people in B.C. aged 16 years or older who are clinically extremely vulnerable will receive their first dose of vaccine in the coming weeks.

It says expert physicians have determined those who are most at risk of severe illness from COVID-19, and the individuals identified will receive a letter in the mail in the coming days on how to book an appointment.

The booking process for vulnerable people will run parallel to the ongoing age-based schedule, which has also been sped up so that 76-year-olds can start booking Wednesday, 75-year-olds on Thursday and 74-year-olds on Friday.

If people who believe they are in that vulnerable group have not received a letter by April 15, the ministry says they can contact the provincial call centre or use the online booking platform set to launch April 6, to confirm they are on the list.

"Since Day 1 of our immunization plan, we have set out to protect those who are most at risk to COVID-19," said Dr. Penny Ballem, executive lead of B.C.'s immunization plan, in the release.

"We used clinical evidence from around the world and clinical expertise and patient registries in B.C. to develop this list and look forward to taking another important step forward in our immunization plan."

Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.'s provincial health officer, said these vaccinations will relieve a significant burden from those who are extremely clinically vulnerable to severe illness from COVID-19.

"This is another encouraging step forward for all of us as we continue to ramp up our immunization efforts."

MORE National ARTICLES

B.C. politician Ian Waddell dies at 78

B.C. politician Ian Waddell dies at 78
The former lawyer, New Democrat member of Parliament and member of the B.C. legislature died Monday at his Vancouver home at the age of 78.

B.C. politician Ian Waddell dies at 78

Group of B.C. mayors concerned by ambulance delays

Group of B.C. mayors concerned by ambulance delays
B.C. Emergency Health Services is responsible for call intake and dispatch, and the mayors say many municipal firefighters are trained and licensed to administer an enhanced level of emergency medical care to patients.

Group of B.C. mayors concerned by ambulance delays

Suspicious fire in Whalley

Suspicious fire in Whalley
On March 15, 2021 at approximately 11:30 p.m., Surrey RCMP was called to assist the Surrey Fire Service with a vehicle fire, in the 10700-block of 133 Street.

Suspicious fire in Whalley

B.C. raises income and disability rates

B.C. raises income and disability rates
Nicholas Simons, the minister of social development and poverty reduction, says it's the largest-ever permanent increase for income and disability assistance rates in B.C., and the third increase since July 2017.

B.C. raises income and disability rates

556 COVID19 cases for Tuesday

556 COVID19 cases for Tuesday
There have been 116 new confirmed COVID-19 cases that are variants of concern identified in our province in the last day, for a total of 996 cases.

556 COVID19 cases for Tuesday

B.C., Washington team up against giant hornets

B.C., Washington team up against giant hornets
The hornets are considered a serious honeybee predator with a large orange head, mandibles and a wingspan up to seven centimetres.

B.C., Washington team up against giant hornets