BC health officials address early COVID-19 vaccine bookings for some households

Mar 24 2021, 6:08 pm

BC health officials are attempting to clarify their policy when it comes to members of a single household booking COVID-19 vaccination appointments together, even if they’re not within the age and eligibility cohort.

“In many cases, if it’s a couple, and there’s somebody who’s in that age within a short eligibility period, some places are able to do that – if there’s appointments available for moving them up,” said BC’s Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry during a press conference this week.

Henry’s comments come after some reports that people were receiving appointments for being associated with eligible candidates.

“Why would we stop something that moves people up?” Henry quipped. “If there’s appointments available, we want to fill them… it’s a good thing because it means that more people are moving up the line.”

She added that this is “not a big conspiracy or anything,” and that overall, the booking system is smooth and all appointments are being tracked to ensure there’s enough vaccine to fill them.

Health Minister Adrian Dix acknowledged there are some parts of the province “where we’re taking a more ‘all-of community’ approach,” meaning that some people who are younger than the age of eligibility may still receive their vaccine bookings ahead of schedule.

“I’m sure there’ll be some cases where a few people get it before they were scheduled to, but that’s not the end of the world,” he added. “I think overwhelmingly people are following the rules.”

Eric ZimmerEric Zimmer

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