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By Dylana Kneeshaw

FALL BOOSTER SHOTS

Bivalent COVID boosters expected to roll-out alongside flu shots for Interior residents

Sep 7, 2022 | 5:02 PM

KAMLOOPS — Moderna’s bivalent vaccine is scheduled to arrive this week in B.C., and during a briefing Tuesday (Sept. 6) health officials said they’re aiming to start distributing the shots by the third week of September.

In the Interior, Medical Health Officer Dr. Carol Fenton says the roll out will look very similar to the annual flu shot campaign.

“Most people will be able to access both their influenza and COVID booster if they’re eligible through their pharmacy,” explains Dr. Fenton, “and those communities that don’t have participating pharmacies will be able to access those through public health.”

There’s potential for a swell in COVID-19 alongside other respiratory illnesses this fall, so the province has put a large focus on booster shots to revamp protection, and reduce the amount of severe illness.

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“If you had a booster recently, you’re going to have to wait a little bit longer,” Dr. Fenton adds. “But it’s really important to get that protection both from influenza and COVID-19 before December, because that’s when the respiratory season really kicks into high drive.”

At the same time, public health is trying to raise the rate of child and infant vaccinations. According to latest data from the BC CDC, about 58 per cent of children aged five to 11 in B.C. have only had one dose of the pediatric vaccine, and 46 per cent of that same age group have had two doses.

“There is no shortage of that vaccine so if they’re eligible, please book and get that protection,” reiterates Fenton.

Eligibility timing for the bivalent option this year depends on whether you’re part of a high priority, or immuno-suppressed group, if you’re Indigenous, if you’re 60 years or older, or a healthcare worker — and whether it’s been three to six months since the previous booster shot, or full dose.

“When we get to October-ish, that’ll be about five-to-five-and-a-half months since we started that fourth dose program,” Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry stated on Tuesday, “so they’ll be rolled in to getting that vaccine then. And that, we think, will give the best possible protection for all of us as we’re expecting to see a surge of COVID in the November/December timeframe.”

The fall immunizations come at a time when vaccination rates have somewhat plateaued in Canada, with officials trying to reiterate that a previous COVID-19 infection doesn’t give you a lifetime of immunity.

“You should be vaccinated on top of having had an infection,” Dr. Henry says, “whether it was Delta, whether it was in 2020 or whether it was recently from Omicron.”

Click here for more information around bivalent vaccination eligibility and how to book a COVID-19 immunization appointment.