During Monday’s COVID-19 update, the Province announced that people born in 1981 and earlier (40+) can get the AstraZeneca vaccine at eligible pharmacies with supply in the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island, the Interior, and Northern BC.
The Province also announced Monday that 15 high-risk communities will be given priority for clinics dedicated to administering AstraZeneca for people born 1981 and earlier (40+), including Invermere and Enderby.
Based on the successes of targeting high-risk communities like Whistler and Prince Rupert, the Province is using AstraZeneca to target places with high rates of COVID-19 transmission.
The criteria for these communities was based on the rate of COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people, coupled with the 40+ population left to be vaccinated.
The AstraZeneca vaccine is not part of BC’s age-based vaccination program, like Pfizer and Moderna.
Most of the communities make up the Fraser Health, Vancouver Coastal, and Interior Health regions, including Squamish, Port Coquitlam, and Dawson Creek.
Appointments for the AstraZeneca vaccine must be booked in advance at all sites by going online or by calling ahead.
Some pharmacies have internal systems to book vaccine appointments, but the province’s centralized vaccine platform has been expanded to include pharmacy bookings.
People born in 1961 and earlier (aged 60 and older), Indigenous peoples 18 and older, and those who are clinically extremely vulnerable can now register to book their vaccine as well.
Today, all residents of BC, 18 and older, will be able to register for their COVID-19 vaccine this week, see eligibility and register here.
