Come January, the BC government intends to ramp up COVID-19 booster doses with the opening of larger facilities and an expansion to pharmacies across the province.
During a live press conference Tuesday, BC Health officials outlined the province’s next steps in their COVID-19 booster plan.
According to officials, 727,761 boosters/third doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in British Columbia since the program was announced at the end of October.
The roll-out began with priority first given to those most at-risk and continues to operate on an age-based rollout.
According to officials, 67% of people aged 70 and up have received a booster and more than 50% of those 65+.
Approximately 65,000 healthcare workers have received their booster.
Since initial projections, the booster program is operating at 35% more capacity than previously announced, including expanding to pharmacies and health authority clinics.
Currently, Island Health is securing mass vaccination clinic sites in Victoria and regional centres.
See more: 700 pharmacies across BC will start offering COVID-19 booster vaccines by mid-January
The age-based rollout continues to operate at an accelerated pace with appointment wait times averaging between one and three weeks.
According to early predictions by health officials, the boost program would be completed by the end of April 2022.
However, with the program operating at an accelerated rate and an increase in pharmacy capacity, BC Health officials suggested the program may allow the program to be completed by the end of March.
