STARTING this week (September 19), Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) COVID-19 vaccine clinics will begin offering eligible individuals the new combination bivalent (two-strain) COVID-19 vaccine as part of the province’s fall booster program.

This vaccine offers a strong immune response to circulating Omicron variants, the most common circulating COVID-19 strains in B.C. It also boosts protection to the original COVID-19 strain.

This new vaccine will be offered to adults 18 years of age and older, and youth from 12-17 years of age who are at higher risk of developing serious illness from COVID-19. The vaccine is safe and is expected to reduce your risk of serious illness due to COVID-19 infection.

Currently, a fall booster dose is recommended for everyone five years and older in B.C. to prolong their immune response coming into respiratory season during colder months.

Youth under 17 without underlying health conditions will be offered an approved mRNA vaccine, such as Comirnaty (Pfizer-BioNTech) or Spikevox (Moderna). Booster doses are not currently recommended for children six months to five years of age.

You are advised to get a booster dose even if you’ve already been infected with COVID-19, as the combination of infection and vaccination provides the strongest protection (i.e. “hybrid immunity”).

If you’ve recently had a COVID-19 infection, you are recommended to wait three to six months before receiving your booster dose, as the booster shot is not effective in those recently infected.

Individuals who are registered in the province’s Get Vaccinated system will be notified once they are eligible to book an appointment in the weeks ahead. Once you receive a notification, VCH welcomes community members to schedule an appointment at any VCH vaccine clinic across our region.

Many community pharmacies across B.C. are also immunizing eligible individuals. Those booking an appointment can select a date, time and location that is most convenient to them.

VCH advises anyone with questions about COVID-19 immunizations or the fall booster dose to speak to their family doctor, nurse practitioner, or to call 8-1-1 for free healthcare guidance.

Learn more at vch.ca.