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British Columbia provincial health worker Dr.Bonnie Henry announced Monday that COVID-19 vaccine doses for Pfzier-BioNTech, Moderna and AstraZeneca vaccines will be administered 16 weeks (four months) apart. .
“The important thing that we have learned is that these vaccines work, they offer a very high level of protection and the protection lasts for several months,” said Dr Henry.
According to the provincial health officer, evidence shows that about three weeks after a single dose of the vaccine, the effectiveness is about 90%.
“We are convinced that these vaccines are safe and effective,” said Dr Henry.
The announcement comes as the province lays out its plan for the second phase of vaccine distribution, which will see 400,000 people vaccinated in March and early April.
Dr. Penny Ballem, executive director of the BC Immunization Deployment Team, said everyone in the province will be able to receive a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by mid-July to late July.
Between March 1 and March 15, the following groups may receive a COVID-19 vaccine in British Columbia:
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High-risk people living in various collective contexts
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Health care workers – hospital and community
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High-risk seniors living independently (staff included)
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Clientele of housing with supportive services for high-risk seniors
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Long-term clients and home support staff
Between March 15 and April 11, the general population aged 80 and over and Indigenous peoples aged 65 and over will be vaccinated, and the appeal system will be launched on March 8 to make appointments on March 15 and later.
People 80 and over will be separated into three sub-groups to help manage call volume:
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8 March: Call center open to British Columbians born in 1931 or before and to Indigenous peoples born in 1956 or before, with vaccinations starting March 15
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March 15: Call center open to British Columbians born in or before 1936, with vaccinations starting March 22
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March 22: Call center open to British Columbians born in 1941 or before, with vaccination starting March 29
A family member, friend or support person can call to make an appointment with anyone eligible to receive a vaccine.
As the province enters phases three and four of vaccine distribution, Dr Ballem stressed that this timeline is likely to change, particularly after British Columbia finds out how many doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine it will receive. She said about 70,000 additional first doses will be available after the approved timeframe between the first and second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine is extended.
The third phase of the vaccine deployment plan will begin in mid-April and at that time an online platform will be available for booking appointments for vaccines.
Mass vaccination clinics and mobile clinics will also be available to individuals, including people living in remote communities.
Dr Henry revealed that there will be a “limited” choice in which vaccine the people of British Columbia will receive. She explained that first responders and essential workers will have the choice of receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine “short term” or waiting until their age group receives the Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.
Although the province continues to immunize its population, the BC provincial health officer stressed that everyone must continue to follow the public health rules in place for “a little longer.”
“We are now in those last kilometers of this marathon,” said Dr Henry.
“We know there’s an end point in sight and it’s weeks and months, not a bit of cloudy gray, next year, maybe. That’s where we all need to focus and support us a little longer. “
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