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By Dylana Kneeshaw

COVID-19 UPDATE

Mask use expanding for children 5 and up in B.C, with youth vaccinations anticipated later this fall

Oct 12, 2021 | 4:39 PM

VICTORIA — Pandemic rules and vaccination options are changing for youth in B.C this week.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry expanded the current mask order today (Oct. 12), announcing that masks will be required for youth aged 5 and older in indoor public spaces.

In an update, Dr. Henry says K through 12 students have already been wearing masks in schools, and the order is an expansion to other public settings.

“I continue to be amazed at the adaptability and the resilience of children across this province. Many of them have told me that they know how to wear a mask now. And that it’s something that they do to keep themselves safe, to keep their families safe, and I just want to say thank you,” Dr. Henry says.

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B.C. is currently offering mRNA vaccines to people aged 12 and older, and Dr. Henry says COVID-19 vaccinations will eventually be rolled out for younger ages – with the shots potentially becoming available in early November. There are about 340,000 children aged 5 through 11 in the province who are not yet able to get the vaccine but are eligible to be registered online.

“In the meantime, parents can now pre-register your children in the same way that we have registered ourselves and older children in the past year and a half,” explains Dr. Henry, “Notification of eligibility to book an appointment will be provided as soon as these vaccines are approved for us by Health Canada, and when we have a sense of when they’re going to be available to us in the province.”