Public health is ramping up its vaccination program to include third doses of an approved COVID-19 vaccine in order to improve long-term immunization. (The Canadian Press)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

THIRD DOSES

Public health opening up COVID-19 booster shots to more people province-wide

Oct 26, 2021 | 1:40 PM

NANAIMO — B.C.’s vaccine program is expanding with third doses of approved COVID-19 vaccines to be offered for larger sections of the general public.

Beginning mid-January third doses, or booster shots will be widely available in a bid to further curb transmission rates of the virus, in particular the ultra-contagious Delta variant which is the dominant strain circulating in B.C.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said boosters of Moderna and Pfizer will be available to more B.C. residents who have received two doses, with the rollout occurring in stages through the end of May 2022.

“It will be based on…important risk factors for decreased protection over time and risk for ending up with severe illness hospitalization or death.”

The third dose is currently considered optional and does not affect a “fully vaccinated” status on the BC Vaccine Card, however is recommended by public health for most British Columbians by next spring.

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Those who received AstraZeneca will be offered the Pfizer or Moderna mRNA vaccine as a booster. Public health maintains supply is strong through to the end of 2021, with Canada having already procured vaccine allotment for 2022.

Invitations to book a third dose will come through the Get Vaccinated system, used during the first and second dose registrations. A provincial call centre will remain operational for those without access to online booking.

Much like through dose one and two, larger immunization clinics will service a majority of the population. Health authorities can also schedule “whole of community” programs to deliver third doses to remote or rural communities.

One such clinic was set up on Gabriola Island in the early days of B.C.’s vaccine rollout.

Select pharmacies across the province will also be able to administer third doses.

The First Nations Health Authority will coordinate with Indigenous communities, with a focus on remote communities first.

“Our expectation is it will help to reduce that pressure of the virus in our communities across BC and to reduce the hospitalization rates that we’re seeing right now,” Dr. Henry said.

Eligibility for a third dose will work in a similar fashion to the province’s initial vaccine rollout, with high-risk age groups and segments of the population prioritized. Those include people over the age of 70 and Indigenous people.

The average interval between a second and a third dose is set at between six to eight months, but may change based on individual risk factors.

“We are learning about what is the optional schedule for this vaccine against this virus and how this virus is mutating and changing over time, how long it takes for new strains to arise and how effective different dosages and different intervals can be.”

Dr. Henry added the hope is a third dose gives “longer lasting protection that may last for years.”

The proposed timeline for third doses of vaccine, along with plans for vaccine to be administered to those aged between five and 11, pending Health Canada approval. (BC Government)

B.C. health officials have been administering third doses of vaccine for nearly six weeks.

Dr. Henry first announced an expansion of the immunization program in mid-September, when B.C. followed a recommendation from the National Advisory Council on Immunization (NACI) outlining the benefits of a third dose of vaccine for severely immunocompromised people.

At the time, Henry said people with certain conditions don’t respond well to any type of vaccine and needed the additional boost.

Initially, the dose was offered to around 30,000 people with unique medical histories. Two weeks later, the province expanded its third dose rollout to include seniors living in long-term care and assisted living homes.

In early October, roughly 100,000 more people were invited to receive a third dose who were deemed moderately immunocompromised.

Just under 90 per cent of eligible people aged 12 and up have received a first dose of vaccine, while 84.4 per cent have rolled up their sleeves twice.

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