Ministry of Health plans to provide an update on province's immunization plan

There's no word on whether the B.C. government will make second booster shots available to non-Indigenous people under 70 years of age

by Charlie Smith on July 7th, 2022 at 4:01 PM

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The NDP government has been getting pounded over social media in recent weeks for restricting the distribution of second COVID-19 booster shots.

Four provinces—Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia—allow people 50 years of age and older to receive them.

Quebec is making second COVID-19 boosters available to anyone 18 years of age and older.

And in Ontario and Prince Edward Island, residents can get them if they are 60 years of age or older.

But in B.C., Alberta, and Newfoundland and Labrador, non-Indigenous residents cannot receive a booster unless they are at least 70 years of age under almost all circumstances. Those who are Indigenous can receive a second booster if they are 55 years of age and older.

The refusal to give second boosters to non-Indigenous people below 70 in B.C. is creating an uproar (see below). It's also resulted in some B.C. residents heading south to Washington state to obtain a second booster.

https://twitter.com/profamirattaran/status/1545170890962247681

On Friday (July 8), the Ministry of Health has scheduled an announcement on the province's immunization plan.

The speakers will be Health Minister Adrian Dix, acting provincial health officer Dr. Martin Lavoie, and COVID-19 immunization plan executive lead Dr. Penny Ballem.

There's no word yet on whether they'll loosen the eligibility rules for second boosters.