COVID-19 booster shots, administered to over 500,000 seniors and other population groups are being seen as a major contributing factor behind a drop in active cases and serious hospitalizations. (The Canadian Press)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

THIRD DOSE

‘Over 20 to now, two:’ booster shot program touted as major factor in decline of COVID-19 outbreaks

Dec 7, 2021 | 2:41 PM

NANAIMO — Third, booster doses of COVID-19 vaccine continue to be administered across the province.

Over 500,000 third shots have been given to date, primarily in high-risk groups such as seniors and those living in long term care.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said invitations continue to go out to those eligible ahead of B.C.’s move down the age cohorts and into the meat of the population bell curve early in the new year.

“Our goal continues to be to vaccinate the entire adult population with a booster dose at six to eight months [after a person’s second dose].”

Through to January 2022, those born in 1951 or earlier are eligible to book an appointment through the province’s website.

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Indigenous people aged 18 and up, those living in remote or rural Indigenous communities, health care workers and people who received AstraZeneca as a vaccine option are also eligible.

Dr. Henry said the province’s booster program is following the initial rollout, by concentrating on high-risk groups first.

“With a goal to ensuring those who are more vulnerable to breakthrough infections who we were seeing having more severe infections and being hospitalized, to receive their booster doses first and as close to six months, post dose two, as possible,” Dr. Henry said.

After January, B.C. will move to administer third doses to those 18 and up.

Dr. Henry pointed to a reduction in long term care outbreaks as evidence the booster program is working.

“We’re seeing the impact of our vaccine mandate for healthcare workers and for booster doses with the fact our outbreaks in long term care from over 20 to now, two.”

Vaccinations for those aged five to 11 also continue to be administered.

Those shots are only available through immunization clinics in various communities, including Nanaimo, but not pharmacies.

“They don’t have the pediatric vaccine in pharmacies,” Dr. Henry said “It is not our intention to have pediatric vaccines in pharmacies in the near future. They pharmacies are working with us to really support the big roll out of booster doses coming due in the coming months.”

Public health continues to track more cases of the omicron variant in B.C., with the count now up to five.

Three were fully vaccinated with three different vaccine programs, while the other two were unvaccinated. The positive results came in people aged 18 to 60 and all were associated with international travel.

Countries linked to the five included Nigeria, Egypt, Iran and a collection of nations in southern Africa.

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