Close X
Thursday, November 28, 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. sets record for OD deaths in 2020

B.C. sets record for OD deaths in 2020
Lisa Lapointe says that's an "alarming" death rate of 33.4 per 100,000 people and it far surpassed fatalities due to suicides, homicides, motor vehicle crashes and prescription drug deaths combined.

B.C. sets record for OD deaths in 2020

O'Toole presses pipelines with U.S. envoy

O'Toole presses pipelines with U.S. envoy
About 87 million litres of oil and natural gas liquids moves daily through Line 5 from Wisconsin to Sarnia, Ont., passing through parts of Michigan.

O'Toole presses pipelines with U.S. envoy

Survey suggests most Canadians trust vaccines

Survey suggests most Canadians trust vaccines
Proof Strategies conducts a survey every year to assess how much faith Canadians have in major institutions and authorities.

Survey suggests most Canadians trust vaccines

Ottawa announces $55m in clean tech funding

Ottawa announces $55m in clean tech funding
Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne says the spending will help keep Canada at the forefront of the large and growing clean technology market.

Ottawa announces $55m in clean tech funding

Highway reopens near Hope, B.C., after fatal crash

Highway reopens near Hope, B.C., after fatal crash
Crews had to remove more than 20 damaged vehicles, including jackknifed tractor-trailers, a motor coach bus, cars, a police cruiser and even an ambulance that lost control in icy conditions on a curvy, downhill grade.

Highway reopens near Hope, B.C., after fatal crash

6 new COVID19 deaths for Wednesday

6 new COVID19 deaths for Wednesday
There are 4,305 active cases of COVID-19 in the province. There are 230 individuals currently hospitalized with COVID-19, 66 of whom are in intensive care.

6 new COVID19 deaths for Wednesday