BC enters phase 2 of immunization plan

More than 400,000 people in British Columbia will be immunized from March to early April as the Province moves into Phase 2 of the largest immunization rollout in B.C.’s history.

“At every step of the way, we are putting the health and safety of British Columbians first,” said Premier John Horgan. “B.C. was one of the first provinces to lay out our vaccine plan, and now we’re moving to Phase 2 to reach even more of our seniors and Elders. We’re getting vaccine into arms as fast as we can given early supply delays from manufacturers, and we’re seeing it start to make a difference for people and their communities throughout our province.”

Those in Phase 2 receiving their first vaccine dose in March and early April include:

• seniors and high-risk people residing in independent living and senior’s supportive housing (including staff);
• home-care support clients and staff;
• Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, Inuit) peoples born in or before 1956 (65 years and older); and
• seniors born in or before 1941 (80 years and older).

Beginning March 8, 2021, seniors aged 80+ and Indigenous peoples aged 65+ who are not living in independent living or seniors’ supportive housing can make one call to book their appointment through their local health authority call centre according to a staggered schedule. This is to avoid long waits and system overload. Immunization clinic locations will be confirmed at time of booking, with vaccinations starting as early as March 15, 2021:

• March 8, 2021: Seniors born in or before 1931 (90 years+)/Indigenous peoples born in or before 1956 (65 years+) may call to book their vaccine appointment;
• March 15, 2021: Seniors born in or before 1936 (85 years+) may call to book their vaccine appointment; and Office of the Premier Ministry of Health
• March 22, 2021: Seniors born in or before 1941 (80 years+) may call to book their vaccine appointment.

The call centre will ask for:

• legal name
• date of birth
• postal code
• personal health number (PHN) from the back of B.C. driver’s licences or BC services cards, and
• current contact information, including an email address you or your family checks regularly or a phone number that can receive text messages.

Regional health authority call centre hours are open from 7a.m. to 7p.m., seven days a week.

• Interior Health: 1 877 740-7747

In mid-April, Phase 3 will begin mass vaccination of people aged 79 to 60 years, and people aged 16+ who are extremely clinically vulnerable at community immunization clinics throughout B.C. Mobile clinics will be available in some rural communities and for people who are homebound due to mobility issues.

In Phase 3, British Columbians will register and book their appointments to receive their first and second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine through an online registration tool. People born between 1942 and 1946 (ages 79-75), and Indigenous people born between the years of 1956 and 1960 (ages 64-60), will be able to register for an appointment online or by phone by March 31, 2021.