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Nisha Yunus- A residential care aide is the first in BC to receive a COVID-19 vaccine
12-15-2020
Today marks the first day of British Columbia’s provincewide COVID-19 immunizations, the most comprehensive vaccine program to ever be delivered in B.C.
Over the coming days, approximately 4,000 health-care workers in British Columbia will be rolling up their sleeves to receive the first approved COVID-19 vaccine.
Pictured is Nisha Yunus, a 64-year old residential care aide in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, receiving her immunization.
Vaccines in Canada
According to Health Canada, the COVID-19 vaccine that has been approved by Health Canada is safe, effective and will save lives.
Vaccines do more than protect the people getting vaccinated, they also protect everyone around them too. The more people in a community who are vaccinated and protected from COVID-19, the harder it is for the virus to spread.
The first vaccines arriving in B.C. are from Pfizer.
The COVID-19 vaccine will be free for everyone in British Columbia.
Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require two doses, spaced at least three weeks apart.
A phased approach to receive the vaccine
The first limited round of approximately 4,000 vaccines will be administered to Lower Mainland health-care workers who work in long-term care homes and the frontlines of COVID-19 response in acute care. Fraser Health and Vancouver Coastal Health are reaching out to those staff to schedule opportunities for vaccine appointments.
We expect vaccines to be available in all health authorities soon. Each health authority will determine the sequencing of distribution using the same process.
Vaccines will continue arriving each week in B.C. in increasing quantities, with targeted deployment for people in additional priority groups. Expected timelines will depend on vaccine approval and availability.
Priority vaccine groups
Public health will arrange for the following priority groups to get the vaccine. No action is required on your part.
First priority groups
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Long-term care residents and staff
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Health-care facility staff for COVID-19 patients in settings like Intensive Care Units, COVID-19 wards and emergency departments
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Indigenous people living in rural or remote communities
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High risk people living in group settings like shelters
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People over 80 years old
Second priority groups
In spring 2021 as more vaccine becomes available, a second phase of vaccination will begin for:
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Older people under age 80 in descending five-year-age groups, with a focus on the oldest people first
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Key frontline workers including:
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All other healthcare workers
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Police
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Fire and first responders
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People working in grocery stores
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People working in K to 12 education settings and child care providers
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People working in transportation
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People working in manufacturing and production facilities
The ordering of priority groups is based on recommendations from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization.
General population timeline
Following all priority groups, all others in B.C. can get the vaccine as it becomes available, if the vaccine is recommended for them.
A registration and record system is in development, including a process to register for vaccine access and to receive a formal record of immunization.
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There is no need to call your local health authority at this time
Everyone the vaccine is recommended for in B.C. will have the opportunity to get the vaccine by the end of 2021. We estimate that we could reach heard immunity once 60 to 70% of the population is vaccinated. This would reduce transmission rapidly.
Until then, we all need to continue to protect each other by following public health orders and:
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Washing our hands
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Staying home when sick
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Staying physically distant from people we don’t know
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Wearing a mask in public indoor spaces
Picture Credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/bcgovphotos/50723837268/in/photostream/
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