Close X
Wednesday, November 27, 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

Federal, B.C. rent help for 25,000 households

Federal, B.C. rent help for 25,000 households
Ahmed Hussen, federal families, children and social development minister, says the 10-year, $517-million Canada-B.C. Housing Benefit will provide financial assistance to top up monthly rent payments for those who can't make ends meet.

Federal, B.C. rent help for 25,000 households

MPs vote to summon Kielburger brothers to testify

MPs vote to summon Kielburger brothers to testify
The charity said it would therefore decline the requests to testify. Monday's motion was originally put forward by the Conservatives, and amended by the NDP to set a deadline of Friday.

MPs vote to summon Kielburger brothers to testify

B.C. gets 1.7 million calls as vaccine lines open

B.C. gets 1.7 million calls as vaccine lines open
Dix says the "enormous" response today reflects the significant support for vaccination in the province.

B.C. gets 1.7 million calls as vaccine lines open

Committee expands probe into military misconduct

Committee expands probe into military misconduct
The committee members will also ask Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan back to clarify what opposition members say are contradictions between his testimony and that of former military ombudsman Gary Walbourne.

Committee expands probe into military misconduct

Canada set to receive 910K vaccine doses this week

Canada set to receive 910K vaccine doses this week
The remaining 465,000 shots are expected from Moderna, as the pharmaceutical firm steps up its delivery schedule from once every three weeks to once every two.

Canada set to receive 910K vaccine doses this week

Low-wage women hit hardest by COVID-19: report

Low-wage women hit hardest by COVID-19: report
Employment among women remains about 5.3 per cent below where it sat in February 2020 just before the first wave of COVID-19, compared to about 3.7 per cent for men.

Low-wage women hit hardest by COVID-19: report