Sunday April 10, 2022 | VICTORIA, BC
by Mary P Brooke, B.Sc. | Island Social Trends
As of Friday April 8, the public health order to show your BC Vaccine Card to access certain events, services and businesses is no longer in effect.
Individual businesses and organizations may choose to continue requiring the BC Vaccine Card on their premises.
Provincial Health Officer Dr Henry Bonnie announced last month that effective Friday April 8 at 12:01 am the BC vaccine Card will no longer be required. Businesses may transition from COVID-19 safety plans to a communicable disease plan. As well, post-secondary residence vaccine requirements will be lifted.
She and Health Minister Adrian Dix reaffirmed the April 8 turning-point date, during a media session on April 5.
Masks indoors:
People may choose to wear a mask indoors, which is advised when in crowded spaces and around people at close range whose vaccination status you are unsure of.
Awareness of the level of ventilation is also a key consideration for making a decision about mask-wearing when indoors.
Vaccination is key:
The primary reason that things can open up in society and the economy during the ongoing pandemic is the widespread uptake of COVID vaccination in the general population.
As of BC Centre for Disease Control stats on April 6, now 90.9% of the eligible population (i.e. people age 5 years and older) have received a first dose of COVID vaccination, while 87.5% had received a second dose.
At present, two doses of COVID vaccine (of any type, except the one-dose Janssen product) is technically considered to be ‘fully vaccinated’. However, the booster shot (third dose) is highly recommended and is considered preferable for best-protection against severe COVID infection, hospitalization and death.
The level of third-dose vaccination in BC was 57.8% for those who are eligible (age 12+).
In BC, a six-month interval is recommended between doses.
COVID vaccine products available in BC are Pfizer, pediatric Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Janssen, and Novavax.
Second booster (fourth shot):
Last week Dr Henry said that a second booster (i.e. fourth shot) of COVID vaccine is now recommended for anyone age 70+ in the community, and for all people in long-term care and assisted living (of any age). As well, the fourth shot is available for people deemed clinically extremely vulnerable (CEV).
A fourth shot (or second booster) is a potential thing for the upcoming Fall 2022-Winter 2023 respiratory season, Dr Henry confirmed this past week.
===== BC Health Links:
BC Government – Getting a Vaccine
COVID-19 vaccination, immunization and treatments (BC Government COVID landing page)
Clinically Extremely Vulnerable | Vaccination in BC (BC Health news release March 23, 2022)
===== RELATED COVID NEWS:
Island Social Trends COVID archive (2020 to present)
===== ABOUT THE WRITER:
Island Social Trends Editor Mary P Brooke has been covering news about COVID since the new SARS-CoV-2 virus was first revealed in international news in December 2019.
Ms Brooke holds a B.Sc. in health science (nutrition) with a second major in sociology. She has operated her publishing company Brookeline Publishing House Inc since 1995 in the Greater Victoria area.
Island Social Trends is now in its 14th year (previously MapleLine Magazine 2008-2010, Sooke Voice News 2011-2013, and West Shore Voice News 2014-2020). Her journalism is widely respected for socioeconomic and political insights. She holds the McGeachy Prize in Journalism (University of Saskatchewan).
The Island Social Trends Journalism Scholarship is available to students graduating from SD62 (schools in Langford, Colwood & Sooke).