Close X
Thursday, October 31, 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

Feds eye more cash for rapid-housing program

Feds eye more cash for rapid-housing program
Overall, the government is funding 179 projects and a further 52 more from major cities out of 679 applications that had a total funding request of over $4 billion.

Feds eye more cash for rapid-housing program

Tam: variants threatening vaccine progress

Tam: variants threatening vaccine progress
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reiterated Friday that Canada is on pace to vaccinate all residents who want a vaccine by the end of September.

Tam: variants threatening vaccine progress

Blood clot risk bigger with COVID-19 than vaccines

Blood clot risk bigger with COVID-19 than vaccines
Thrombosis Canada issued an updated statement on the risk of blood clots late Thursday, after the European Medicines Agency released its final report on the risk of blood clots after getting the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine.

Blood clot risk bigger with COVID-19 than vaccines

Canada to ratify trade deal with United Kingdom

Canada to ratify trade deal with United Kingdom
The agreement will provide Canadian exporters and businesses with continued preferential access to the U.K. market.

Canada to ratify trade deal with United Kingdom

Conservatives to debate next steps on policy

Conservatives to debate next steps on policy
The party's policy document under scrutiny Friday is supposed to help guide the election platform.

Conservatives to debate next steps on policy

PM slams 'lack of transparency' in China's trial

PM slams 'lack of transparency' in China's trial
Justice Department officials have refused to say much about the case beyond the fact that they continue to seek her extradition to the U.S.

PM slams 'lack of transparency' in China's trial