Nearly 770,000 eligible British Columbians have received their first dose of vaccine; more than 87,000 have received their second dose
ALL eligible adults in B.C. will soon be able to follow an easy, three-step process to register and book their vaccine appointments online, as the Province moves to Phase 3 of B.C.’s COVID-19 Immunization Plan ahead of schedule.
“British Columbians faced the countless challenges of this past year with incredible courage,” said Premier John Horgan on Monday. “Today marks a major milestone in our fight against COVID-19, and we ask everyone to wait their turn and follow three steps to help put this pandemic behind us.”
There are three easy steps to register to book your vaccine appointment:
1. Register: First, register when it is your turn and get a confirmation code.
2. Book: Book a vaccine appointment when you get an email, text or phone call telling you you are eligible to book, based on your age.
3. Get vaccinated: Visit a vaccine clinic to get your vaccine dose.
Starting at 8 a.m. (Pacific time), on Tuesday, April 6, people born in 1950 and earlier (71 and older), Indigenous peoples 18 and older, and those who are clinically extremely vulnerable may register to book their vaccine appointment through the Province’s new ‘Get Vaccinated’ system in one of three ways:
* online at: gov.bc.ca/getvaccinated (https://www2.gov.bc.ca/getvaccinated.html)
* by telephone through a provincial call centre (toll-free) at 1 833 838-2323
* in-person at the nearest Service BC location.
“We encourage everyone in B.C. to get their vaccine at their first opportunity, when it is their turn,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health.
Check in regularly to know when it is your turn to register: gov.bc.ca/getvaccinated (https://www2.gov.bc.ca/getvaccinated.html)
To preserve system capacity, wait until your age cohort is called to register.
“With more vaccine supply, we are taking an important step into Phase 3 of our immunization plan, and I encourage anyone who has questions to go to the BC Centre for Disease Control website to learn more about the safe and effective vaccines we have here in B.C.,” said Dr. Bonnie Henry, Provincial Health Officer. “Every vaccine delivered makes all of us safer – let’s keep our momentum going and get everyone who wants one, their first dose by Canada Day.”
People aged 55 to 65 on the Lower Mainland continue to be eligible to book an appointment to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine at a participating pharmacy near them:
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/covid-19/vaccine/pharmacy (https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/covid-19/vaccine/pharmacy)
More news to expand B.C.’s AstraZeneca program through pharmacies in other regions will come in the days ahead.
“We have worked diligently and tirelessly to get this online registration, booking and tracking system ready for British Columbians,” said Dr. Penny Ballem, executive lead, B.C.’s COVID-19 immunization program. “I want to thank the regional health authorities for delivering the clinics. Now, with the help of the new online and single phone number system, we’re ready to move onto the next phase of the largest vaccination program in B.C. history.”
To date, nearly 770,000 eligible British Columbians – or one in six – have received their first dose of vaccine, and more than 87,000 have received their second dose. If B.C.’s vaccine supply is delivered as scheduled, everyone in B.C. who is eligible for the vaccine will receive their first dose by the end of June.
Learn More:
* On April 6, gov.bc.ca/getvaccinated (https://www2.gov.bc.ca/getvaccinated.html) will be available in 12 different languages.
* For language assistance with registration, call (toll-free) 1 833 838-2323, available in 140 different languages.
BACKGROUNDER
How to use the “Get Vaccinated” registration and booking system
Starting at 8 a.m. (Pacific time), April 6, 2021, people born in 1950 and before (71 years and older), Indigenous peoples 18 and older, and people who are clinically extremely vulnerable and have received a letter inviting them to book a vaccination, will be able to use the Province’s new “Get Vaccinated” registration and booking system through three, easy steps:
1. Register: First, and when it is your age cohort, register and get a confirmation code. Do not lose this code, you will need it to book your vaccination appointment later.
2. Book an appointment: You will be contacted when you are eligible to book a vaccine appointment. Eligibility is based on your age and B.C.’s COVID-19 Immunization Plan.
You will select a clinic location, date and time for your vaccination.
3. Get vaccinated: Visit an immunization clinic to get your vaccine.
To register online, visit: gov.bc.ca/getvaccinated (https://gov.bc.ca/getvaccinated)
and provide:
* First and last name
* Date of birth
* Postal code
* Personal Health Number (on the back of your B.C. driver’s licence, B.C. Services Card or Care Card)
* An email address that gets checked regularly or a phone number that can receive texts
If you do not have a Personal Health Number, you can register by phone or at a Service BC office.
Information collected for the COVID-19 vaccination program will not be shared with other agencies. People will never be asked for their SIN, driver’s licence number or banking and credit card details.
To register by phone:
* Call (toll-free) 1 833 838-2323.
* Translators are available in 140 languages.
* Call centres are open seven days a week, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Pacific time).
To register at a Service BC office:
* Go to any Service BC office during their hours of operation. Office hours vary by location. Check before you go.
* To find a Service BC office near you: www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/organizational-structure/ministries-organizations/ministries/citizens-services/servicebc (https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/organizational-structure/ministries-organizations/ministries/citizens-services/servicebc)
People who have already received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, using one of the five regional health authority call centres, will use the online registration and booking tool or the Get Vaccinated call centre when it is time for them to book their second dose. Details on when people should register for their second dose will be available in May 2021.
