CKPG News

Northern Health COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution – Update

Mar 20, 2021 | 12:20 PM

Prince George – As the vaccine rollout continues across the province, Northern Health has updated its mass immunization plan this weekend

This follows Dr. Bonnie Henry’s recent announcement that the provincial immunization program is ahead of schedule.

But according to Northern Health, things are working a little differently up here, Eryn Collins with Northern Health, says they are following a condensed schedule with opening the eligibility for booking appointments.

“Generally, and since about the 10th of March the eligibility has been open to people age 80 years of age and older and indigenous people 65 and older, but, there are local variations. The next phase of this is going to include a number of northern health communities’ age-based eligibilities to book appointments dropping to 70-years of age and older. and 55 years of age and older for Indigenous people.”

Some smaller communities in the North will see a faster schedule based on population size, remoteness, and/or accessibility, where they will take a “whole community approach”, like Prince Rupert. The question is, what does this mean for Prince George.

“Nothing has changed recently, we began with the original eligibility groups on March 8, which is when the call centers opened and the eligibility was for people who were 90 years of age and older and 65 years of age and older for Indigenous people. We very quickly thought with that condensed schedule with that for booking in the north moved to the eligibility being for anyone 80 years and older and that’s been the case since the 10th of March.”

Collins says the clinic in Prince George is underway and usually sees about 200 appointments in a day. Collins also said it shouldn’t be too long before the eligibility changes to a lower age range.

The most important information is this, Northerners are encouraged to visit the Northern Health website for booking and age eligibility information.

Northerners are encouraged to visit the Northern Health website for details on their local appointment eligibility schedules – and to call based on those dates to help the booking system operate more smoothly and ensure those who are eligible can be booked quickly and efficiently.