COVID-19 Immunization Plan
Pregnant people born in 2005 or earlier (16+) can get vaccinated now. To book an appointment, call 1-833-838-2323.
B.C.’s COVID-19 Immunization Plan is designed to save lives and stop the spread of COVID-19. The information on this page is updated frequently and is subject to change based on vaccine availability and the latest COVID-19 data.
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Last updated: May 12, 2021
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Get vaccinated
All COVID-19 vaccines in Canada are effective and safe. The best vaccine is the one available to you first. Provincial Health Officer (PHO) orders and guidelines remain in place for everyone, even if they have received the vaccine.
Second doses are given about 16 weeks after the first dose. You will get an email, text or phone call to let you know when you are eligible to book an appointment to get a second dose.
General population
Everyone living B.C. will have the opportunity to get the vaccine for free in 2021. Your vaccine appointment is scheduled based on your age.
Priority neighbourhoods
People 18+ who live in high-transmission neighbourhoods can register and get contacted to book their vaccine appointment.
Pharmacy program
The AstraZeneca/COVISHIELD vaccine pharmacy program is paused. If you already have an appointment scheduled, it will not be cancelled.
The COVID-19 vaccine is saving lives. Vaccines do more than protect the people getting vaccinated, they also protect everyone around them. The more people in a community who are immunized and protected from COVID-19, the harder it is for COVID-19 to spread.
The best source of COVID-19 vaccine information is the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control BCCDC.
Approved vaccines
The COVID-19 vaccines that have been approved by Health Canada are safe, effective and will save lives. To date, four vaccines have been approved for use by Health Canada.
- Learn about the Pfizer vaccine
- Learn about the Moderna vaccine
- Learn about the AstraZeneca/SII COVISHIELD (AZ/SII) vaccine
- Learn about the Johnson & Johnson vaccine
Safety
Health Canada has conducted a rigorous scientific review of the available medical evidence to assess the safety of the approved COVID-19 vaccines. Feeling worried or unsure is completely normal when something is new.
- No major safety concerns have been identified in the data Health Canada reviewed
- We can be reassured that Health Canada has a thorough approval process that makes sure the vaccines and medicines we take are safe
Supply
Vaccine supply is distributed by the Government of Canada and B.C. receives an allocated number of doses of vaccine on a weekly basis. The allocated amount is expected to increase throughout 2021.
Eligibility is based on the age you are turning in 2021. Once you become eligible, you are always eligible. For example:
- If you are in Phase 2, you can get the vaccine in Phase 3 or Phase 4
- If you are in Phase 3, you can get the vaccine in Phase 4
The phased approach is based on expert advice and guidance from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI), B.C.’s Immunization Committee and the public health leadership committee. NACI recommends certain populations receive prioritization for early COVID-19 vaccination.
B.C. is committed to an ethical approach to immunization phases. The COVID-19 vaccine will be distributed equitably and ethically to people in B.C. following national ethical frameworks and BCCDC’s COVID-19 Ethical Decision-Making Framework.
The timeline for each phase may change due to vaccine availability. The federal government is working to obtain as much vaccine as possible to distribute to provinces and territories.
- View vaccination progress on the BCCDC COVID-19 dashboard
Community-specific approach
Some small and remote communities are getting vaccinated using a community-specific approach that may be different from the provincial schedule. Find out if your community is included and the specific vaccination schedule, based on your health authority:
Distribution for front-line priority workers
Vaccine distribution for front-line priority workers is being scheduled directly by health authorities on a case-by-case basis, based on available supply.
Program distribution status will be updated as information is available.
Youth aged 12 to 17
Health Canada has approved the use of the Pfizer vaccine for youth aged 12 to 17. and B.C. is expanding the COVID-19 Immunization Plan to include this age group.
If you are 12 to 17, do not register for a vaccine at this time. Registration details will be updated as information is available. Youth registration is only available for:
- People 16+ who are clinically extremely vulnerable
- People 16+ who are pregnant
Phase 1 and Phase 2: High-risk population immunization
The focus of Phase 1 and Phase 2 is protecting those most vulnerable to severe illness first.
Phase 1 – Complete
Timeline: December 2020 to February 2021
- Residents and staff of long-term care facilities
- Individuals assessed for and awaiting long-term care
- Residents and staff of assisted living residences
- Essential visitors to long-term care facilities and assisted living residences
- Hospital health care workers who may provide care for COVID-19 patients in settings like Intensive Care Units, emergency departments, paramedics, medical units and surgical units
- Remote and isolated Indigenous communities
Phase 2 – Complete
Timeline: February to April 2021
Public health immunization clinics
- Seniors born in 1941 or earlier not immunized in Phase 1
-
Indigenous (First Nations, Métis and Inuit) peoples born in 1956 or earlier, Elders and additional Indigenous communities not immunized in Phase 1
- Hospital staff, community general practitioners (GPs) and medical specialists not immunized in Phase 1
- Vulnerable populations living and working in select congregated settings
- Staff in community home support and nursing services
Phase 3 and Phase 4: General population immunization
Vaccines in Phase 3 and Phase 4 will primarily be distributed in five year age increments. Monthly breakdowns for dose one are estimates and may change based on vaccine availability.
Phase 3 – Complete
Timeline: April to May 2021
- People aged 79 to 60, in five year increments:
- 79 to 75 (Dose 1 April)
- 74 to 70 (Dose 1 April)
- 69 to 65 (Dose 1 April)
- 64 to 60 (Dose 1 April/May)
- Indigenous (First Nations, Métis and Inuit) peoples aged 64 to 18 (Dose 1 April)
- People aged 74 to 16 who are clinically extremely vulnerable (Dose 1 March/April)
Phase 4 – Current phase
Timeline: May to June 2021
- People aged 59 to 18, in five year increments:
- 59 to 55 (Dose 1 May)
- 54 to 50 (Dose 1 May)
- 49 to 45 (Dose 1 May)
- 44 to 40 (Dose 1 May/June)
- 39 to 35 (Dose 1 May/June)
- 34 to 30 (Dose 1 June)
- 29 to 25 (Dose 1 June)
- 24 to 18 (Dose 1 June)
When you get vaccinated, you will have the option to receive a paper and digital copy of your immunization record card. We recommend registering for Health Gateway, where your digital immunization record card will be available only after you receive the vaccine.
Note: Health Gateway is not a source of vaccine or immunization information.
Your immunization record will be also be stored in the online provincial database, accessible to you, public health and your doctor.
Example of a paper immunization record card:
Lifting restrictions
Lifting current restrictions will be based on many factors, including:
- Number of people immunized and level of community immunity
- Number of COVID-19 cases in the province
- Health care system capacity
Layers of protection
Going back to normal life will take time. Even if you have received the vaccine, you must follow provincial health orders and protect others by:
- Washing your hands
- Staying home when sick and getting tested
- Keeping a safe distance from others
- Wearing a mask in public indoor spaces
Together, we can keep each other safe.
