Another 100,000 people who are clinically extremely vulnerable will be able to get COVID-19 booster shots, B.C.’s provincial health officer said Tuesday.
Last month, Dr. Bonnie Henry announced booster shots for about 15,000 of the 300,000 people diagnosed by doctors as clinically extremely vulnerable.
The province is now expanding that to about 100,000 moderately to severely compromised for a total of 115,000.
Seniors in long-term care will also receive boosters this week in conjunction with flu shots.
The new group includes those receiving cancer treatment, including chemotherapy, molecular therapy, immunotherapy, and more, as well as people receiving radiation therapy since October 2020.
The Provincial Health Services Authority has been in contact with specialists to identify those who qualify and “you’ll receive an invite from us in the next few days,” said Henry.
In addition, those with autoimmune disorders, including multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and lupus as well as some people with AIDS or HIV infection, will get a booster shot. People on certain immune-suppressing drugs or with severe kidney or renal disease will also receive a booster.
“If you believe you meet one of these criteria — and the details will be on the website — and have not been contacted by next week, you can get in touch with your health-care provider,” Henry said.
People who are clinically extremely vulnerable are unable to mount the same immune response as a healthy person after two doses.
Eighty-one per cent of those eligible in the province are fully vaccinated with two shots.
For information on eligibility, visit: gov.bc.ca/gov/content/covid-19/ vaccine/register#immunocompromised
