Vaccination update

Province reveals details of vaccination plan for those aged 12 and up

May 20, 2021 | 2:34 PM

VICTORIA — British Columbia’s provincial government released more details regarding their plan to vaccinate those aged 12 and up today.

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said 310,000 people from the age of 12 to 17 can now join adults 18 and up in registering for a vaccine. That can be done online, by phone at 1-833-838-2323 or in person at any Service BC centre

She said that those 12 and up will be vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine. Henry said she was hopeful however that they will soon be able to get vaccinated with the Moderna vaccine as well, as soon as health trials are completed.

She said youth can register themselves or a guardian can do so for them. Henry said people aged 12-17 can also get vaccinated when they accompany their parents or guardians to a vaccine clinic.

People in this age group are asked to bring their identification. The vaccinations will take place at existing clinics and at schools.

Young people accompanying adults to the adult’s new vaccine appointment can register on site and do not need to be registered or booked in advance. Just let clinic staff know you have arrived.

On the vaccination front, Henry said 2,687,360 COVID-19 vaccines have now been administered in B.C., or 58 per cent of eligible adults 18 and older. Just three per cent of British Columbians have received two doses.

As for the daily COVID-19 numbers, Henry said there are 357 new cases of COVID-19 in B.C., including 22 in the Northern Health region.

The number of active cases has dropped slightly to 4,635 with 331 people in hospital, 113 of whom are in critical or intensive care.

Sadly three people have died, including a person in their seventies in the Northern Health region. That brings the provincial death toll to 1,661.

Looking ahead to this weekend, Premier John Horgan encouraged everyone to abide with the COVID-19 travel restrictions and other health orders “so we can have the summer we all want.”

Looking ahead, Henry said the Province will unveil it’s re-opening plan on Tuesday.