COVID-19 boosters available for 100,000 immunocompromised British Columbians

British Columbians who are moderately to severely immunocompromised will be able to get a third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Dr. Bonnie Henry announced Tuesday that approximately 100,000 British Columbians will be able to get the booster, building off a previous plan that saw 15,000 immunocompromised and extremely clinically-vulnerable people get the extra shot.

“We now know that a third dose can actually stimulate a response for many people that gives them as much protection — or at least some protection closer — to what people with a strong immune response system have,” said Henry.

The new recommendation by B.C.’s top doctor opens up the ability to get a third shot for people who are going through active cancer treatment and have received systemic therapy between March 2020 and now, or have undergone radiation treatment between October 2020 and now; who are on dialysis; who have primary immunodeficiencies that affect T-cells; who have complications from HIV/AIDS; who have autoimmune disease; who have received or have been receiving oral immune suppressing drugs since December of 2020.

It would also cover those who have been treated with immune suppression injections or infusions since last December; and those who are on dialysis or have severe kidney and renal disease.

Henry noted that full details on those who now classify as eligible for a third dose will be available at the B.C. Centre for Disease Control’s website and the GetVaccinated B.C. website.

Those who fall under the new category of people eligible for a third COVID-19 vaccine will be contacted by the GetVaccinated system in the coming week and advised to book their shots. People who are concerned they may be more at risk can also contact their care providers to see if they qualify for a booster.

Henry said that many people have voiced concerns over the vaccine, but said these shots do work and are proven to be safe for the immunocompromised, whereas COVID-19 is especially harmful.

Henry also noted she has heard from the public who have received a mix of vaccines and are concerned about their ability to travel if they don’t have a third dose, but she assured people that “all of Canada’s vaccines are highly effective in every combination.”

She stated that work is underway both with the federal government and with other nations, including the United States, Great Britain, countries in the European Union, Mexico, and other places that Canadians often visit, to recognize the validity of mixed-immunization for travel purposes.

She also said that B.C. has 300,000 doses of vaccines, mainly Moderna, that are not required in the province and will be donated to the CoVax initiative.

“It is incredibly important for all of us, in B.C. and in Canada, that people around the world are vaccinated and protected against this virus. That is the only way that we will get out of this global pandemic, and it’s important that we do our part to support that as well.”