B.C. seniors call for COVID-19 boosters amid creeping death toll

British Columbia's top doctor has signalled third doses of the COVID-19 vaccine could be made more widely available in coming weeks, as breakthrough cases and subsequent deaths in the province continue to slowly climb.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says more information about booster shots will be made available by the end of October once the various questions around ethics, effectiveness and timing have been considered.

"Who's going to most benefit from a booster shot? What is the best timing? Who's the most at risk?" said Henry, noting both the National Advisory Committee on Immunization and the Council of Chief Medical Officers of Health are also looking into the matter.

"There's a whole number of considerations that we need to go through," she said.

Last month, 125 British Columbians died of COVID-19, 61 per cent of whom were unvaccinated. Six per cent of those who died had one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, and 33 per cent had two doses. In all groups, the death toll skewed older, with the highest mortality rates seen in those aged 80 and up.

The B.C. Centre for Disease Control has said cases, hospitalizations and deaths in fully vaccinated individuals are expected to climb as more people get vaccinated.

Still, elderly residents tell CBC the latest numbers have them worried, with several saying they are eager for the province to offer third doses to the general public.