Two big developments mean the B.C. immunization game plan might soon be changing.
The federal approval of a third COVID-19 vaccine on Friday, along with news it is expected to arrive here next week, could lead to quicker shots for front-line workers.
And a new policy to triple the maximum recommended allowable time between first and second doses, to three months, could make for faster progress on giving more people more immediate protection.
Both elements jacked up the level of optimism at a briefing that Premier John Horgan and health officials gave. Under the latest plan, everyone who wants the vaccine may get it earlier than the original September target date.
But there is still a high degree of caution about counting on the good news. “We are far from out of this,” Horgan said. “We have months to go.”
He stressed that it depends on off-shore production of vaccine that the federal government is charged with procuring.
Having more vaccine available and being able to stretch it further by waiting longer between jabs could mean changes in the priority list, which would be a tricky proposition.
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry stressed again Monday that age is the prime determinant. The age-based approach is the foundation of the immunization program, she said, meaning the oldest and those who care for them are first in line.
But the third approved vaccine, from AstraZeneca, means increased supply. It doesn’t require super-cold storage, which gives the program more flexibility. That could bump essential service workers further up on the wait list for shots.
Henry said: “We do believe that we will start to target essential workers, particularly our first responders and our key essential workers who are not able to work from home.”
That was the topic of a sharp exchange at the legislature, which resumed sitting Monday after a two-month break.
Opposition B.C. Liberals said front-line essential workers have been told that they would be prioritized and expected to get details of that plan Monday, “but there remains a complete lack of clarity and utter confusion on the order and criteria.”
Health Minister Adrian Dix defended the schedule and said: “The issue as to when people will be immunized at least in part depends on when we’ll get vaccine.”
Shots for essential workers were contemplated in the first launch of the vaccination program on Jan. 19, he said.
Henry said at the briefing that officials are looking at assessing the risk levels of all first responders, such as police, fire, 911 dispatchers and correctional officers.
The same process is underway with essential workers such as teachers and those in the food industry.
“We are working on how to say which of those are most at risk.”
A mass notification program will start next week to inform people when they are eligible for a shot. Officials urged people to follow the age-graduated schedule, so 40-year-olds don’t call in ahead of their turn and interfere with the handling of octagenarians.
But it could all be shuffled if vaccine production accelerates and frontline workers start getting priority.
There was no detailed report card on how phase one of the vaccination program worked. But 90 per cent of the target group in long-term care got their shots and the biggest hitch was when lab production lagged.
The briefing vastly overshadowed the resumption of the legislature, probably by design.
MLAs gathered online and in person in the legislature for the first time since December and it was clear the pandemic is still the main event.
The election is being blamed for pushing the throne speech and budget off until April. That means they have four weeks to fill without much new on the agenda.
A tenancy bill was introduced Monday and a few more pieces of legislation are expected.
Question period was devoted to a critique of the vaccination effort and another round of argument over the NDP’s balky business assistance program.
By the time that was over, the only item on the parliamentary agenda was resuming debate on the throne speech, which was only a few pages long, was delivered in December and is already old news.
