Here's when people 18 to 59 years old will be eligible for COVID-19 vaccine in BC
As a result of an increased vaccine supply and the “shifting” of second-dose timelines to 16 weeks, BC health officials said on Thursday the province is now in a position to adjust their timelines for the general population for the COVID-19 vaccine.
“The additional supply of the AstraZeneca/SII vaccine allows us to strategically target immunizations to maximize the protection of our province,” said BC Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry. “This targeted outreach builds on the momentum we now have with our age-based program to protect those who have been at work every day, without break and without question, for the past year.”
Dr. Penny Ballem, executive lead for BC’s immunization plan rollout, said the province has “made significant progress after some initial challenges and we can proudly say that we are on track to have everyone immunized by this summer.”
Vaccine timeline (Government of BC)
The age-based vaccine rollout using the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines is also accelerating and moving forward ahead of schedule. Currently, every senior born in 1941 or before (80 years old and over) and Indigenous peoples born in 1956 or before (65 years old and over) will be eligible to book a vaccination appointment by Friday, March 19.
The next age cohort is eligible to call as early as Saturday, March 20. The call centre approach through health authorities has now been extended to include those born between the years of 1942 to 1951 (70 to 79) and Indigenous peoples born in 1966 or before (55 and over). The call-in schedule for the age 70 to 74 age cohort will be announced in the coming days.
The provincial registration and booking system, both online and by phone, will be implemented starting April 6 for people between the ages of 65 and 69. As a result, the province has adjusted timelines for Phase 3 and Phase 4 of BC’s COVID-19 Immunization Plan.
Everyone in BC who is eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine will now be able to receive a first dose before July 1, 2021.
And for those between 18 and 59 years old, here’s when they can expect to receive their first dose:
- 59 to 55 (D1 May)
- 54 to 50 (D1 May)
- 49 to 45 (D1 May)
- 44 to 40 (D1 May/June)
- 39 to 35 (D1 May/June)
- 34 to 30 (D1 June)
- 29 to 25 (D1 June)
- 24 to 18 (D1 June)
The province also announced on Thursday that COVID-19 vaccine will be offered to teachers, first responders, grocery store workers, and childcare staff starting next month.