Close X
Wednesday, November 20, 2024
ADVT 
National

B.C. to offer COVID booster for 12-plus this fall

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 08 Jul, 2022 03:43 PM
  • B.C. to offer COVID booster for 12-plus this fall

VANCOUVER - COVID-19 booster shots will be available to British Columbians aged 12 and over starting this fall.

Dr. Penny Ballem, the lead on B.C.'s COVID-19 immunization plan, said Friday that invitations will start going out Monday for those most vulnerable aged 65 and older.

The advantage of getting the shot this fall is that new Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are expected to be more tailor-made to fight Omicron variants, she said.

Almost 94 per cent of B.C. residents have had their first shot, 91.2 per cent have had a second, but just 59.5 have had their booster.

She said 1.3 million people in B.C. have yet to receive their first booster and they should get that right away.

For those who have had their third shot, Ballem said the risk will be highest in the fall when COVID-19 will be circulating with other respiratory illnesses.

"Fall is the best time to get your next shot."

However, Ballem said people who feel they need their second booster now can contact health authorities and they will get their shot.

Up until now, B.C. has been offering second booster shots for people 70 years and older and Indigenous people 55 years and older.

Ballem said officials also hope to get approval by the end of July to give children aged six months to four years their vaccinations, but that still needs regulatory approval.

Acting provincial health officer Dr. Martin Lavoie said the latest wave of the Omicron variant BA.5 is increasing hospitalizations.

Lavoie said vaccine makers have learned a lot about adapting to variants and the developments are promising.

“What’s important to know now is that manufacturers have developed vaccines that will be better adapted to Omicron, which is great news,” he said.

“As the virus goes further away from the vaccine that we have now, we need to have a vaccine that is closely related to what circulates to be more effective.”

The B.C. Centre for Disease Control's most recent update reports 765 COVID-19 cases for the week of June 26 to July 2, up from 620 the previous week.

It also says there were 172 COVID-19 hospital admissions for the week of June 26 to July 2, while there were 209 admissions for the week prior.

The BCCDC says there were 24 COVID-19-related deaths this past week compared to 33 deaths from June 19 to 25.

MORE National ARTICLES

NDP leader defends leadership after minimal gains

NDP leader defends leadership after minimal gains
New Democrats had high hopes heading into Monday’s vote that a breakthrough might be coming thanks to greater voter recognition of Singh, more money to spend on the campaign, and a sense the Liberals under Justin Trudeau were vulnerable.    

NDP leader defends leadership after minimal gains

Justin Trudeau's Liberals win second minority

Justin Trudeau's Liberals win second minority
Late Monday, Justin Trudeau's Liberals were leading or elected in 157 seats — exactly the same number they won in 2019, 13 short of the 170 needed for a majority in the House of Commons.

Justin Trudeau's Liberals win second minority

Special prosecutor named after mayor's complaint

Special prosecutor named after mayor's complaint
The BC Prosecution Service says Juk concluded a special prosecutor was needed in light of allegations made by Mayor Doug McCallum amid ongoing public discussions about the RCMP in Surrey being replaced by a municipal police force.

Special prosecutor named after mayor's complaint

New travel rules ignore Canada-U.S. border ban

New travel rules ignore Canada-U.S. border ban
Air travel to the U.S. from Canada has never been restricted, and it's not yet clear whether the new vaccination rules will be imposed on Canadian passengers when they take effect. The rules at the Canada-U.S. border have also allowed trade and essential workers to move between the two countries unfettered.

New travel rules ignore Canada-U.S. border ban

Elections Canada reports disruptions at some polls

Elections Canada reports disruptions at some polls
While the majority of polling stations opened on time and without incident, Elections Canada spokeswoman Diane Benson says issues have been reported with several sites in Ontario and Western Canada, resulting in some stations opening late or having to be relocated.

Elections Canada reports disruptions at some polls

1,692 COVID19 cases over 3 days

1,692 COVID19 cases over 3 days
There are 5,608 active cases of COVID-19 in the province and 171,769 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 307 individuals are in hospital and 156 are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation.

1,692 COVID19 cases over 3 days