Over 350 pharmacies across 80 communities in BC are now offering booster COVID-19 shots, including Vanderhoof.
Another 700 are slated to come onboard by mid January, and over 1,000 are expected to be part of the program.
Communities in Northern Health taking part include:
- Prince George
- Vanderhoof
- Prince Rupert
- Burns Lake
- Chetwynd
- Fort St John
- Quesnel
- Smithers
- Tumbler Ridge
- Terrace
“Pharmacies have been delivering COVID-19 vaccines since April 2021,” said Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.’s provincial health officer.
“We welcome them playing an even bigger role now in delivering vaccines as part of the Province’s ongoing immunization campaign against COVID-19.”
The BC Government aims to have the majority of booster shots given through pharmacies by early 2022.
Booster shots are approved for those 18 years of age and older, and residents will receive an invitation when it’s their time to book an appointment, roughly six to eight months after the second dose.
“We’re expanding the breadth of our effort and making it more convenient than ever for British Columbians to book a COVID-19 vaccine with their local participating pharmacies,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health.
During the week of Dec. 6, 2021, more than 25,000 appointments for booster shots were made at B.C. pharmacies through the Get Vaccinated registration and booking system.
If you need to make an appointment during your workday, by law you are allowed to take up to three hours of paid leave for your appointment or three hours of unpaid leave for your child’s appointment.