B.C. to accelerate vaccine booster plan in January as Omicron variant spreads
Global News
All British Columbians who want a booster shot should get one by the end of March 2022, if the province's accelerated vaccine regime is successful.
The provincial government has committed to increasing its COVID-19 vaccination capacity and accelerating its booster shot campaign next year.
B.C. aims to complete its booster program by March 31, with a targeted 62-per-cent increase in clinic capacity across all health authorities in January.
The wait time for a booster, officials hope, will average between one and three weeks, according to public health documents.
“We won’t be offering them to everyone all at once, we’re going to go age category by age category, based on risk, based on the medical evidence that supports this program,” Health Minister Adrian Dix said Tuesday.
The rollout plan was announced Tuesday as public health officials ordered new restrictions aimed at curbing the spread of the new, highly-contagious Omicron variant.
The province has observed a spike in COVID-19 cases in the 18- to 35-year-old demographic in recent weeks.
The Vancouver Convention Centre has once again been secured to start delivering boosters in two weeks, which could get 130,000 doses into arms in January alone.
The Fraser Health Authority will launch a new clinic at the Guildford site in Surrey, with more sites anticipated. All other health authorities are also in the process of confirming new clinic spaces.