Dr. Sue Pollock: COVID-19 Booster Campaign is Our Way Forward

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Since its launch earlier this fall, BC’s COVID-19 booster dose campaign has received nearly 800,000 injections into the arms of people across the province.

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We have moved faster and accelerated our efforts in Home Health to make booster shots available – particularly for those over the age of 65 and whose health conditions or other factors put them at higher risk of disease.

This is good news, because since the number of COVID cases is increasing rapidly again in some areas, it is even more important that we do not lose our collective focus on vaccination.

As we learn about the new COVID variant that concerns us, Omicron, we see that it spreads more easily than other variants. We expect it to be the dominant strain in British Columbia in the coming weeks and months, just as Delta became prevalent this summer.

COVID vaccines approved for use in Canada continue to be effective, even against more transmissible variants. The National Advisory Committee on Immunization has confirmed that being fully vaccinated with two doses, followed by a booster shot six to eight months later, gives you stronger and longer-lasting protection and immunity against the variants now and in the future.

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Another strength of COVID vaccines is protection against serious diseases. The BC Center for Disease Control reports that unvaccinated people are 30 times more likely to require hospital care for COVID than those who are vaccinated, and 50 times more likely to be admitted to intensive care.

Throughout 2021, we saw incredible collaboration and creativity at Interior Health as volunteers, municipalities, local service groups, and many others partnered with our healthcare teams to establish and run vaccine clinics. As a result of these ongoing and monumental efforts, more than 83% of eligible residents 12 and older in the interior are fully immunized. This achievement is incredible and we cannot stop now.

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In BC, people receive a text or email invitation from the province’s GetVaccinated system when they are eligible for their booster shot. As we move into January and February, everyone over the age of 18 will be notified approximately six to eight months after receiving their second dose.

Appointments are required at most inland clinics for boosters, although anyone still in need of their first or second dose of vaccine can enter. To make it as convenient as possible, in addition to the Interior Health administered vaccine clinics, booster doses can be reserved at pharmacies in various Interior region communities through the GetVaccinated system.

I know that many of us were looking forward to saying goodbye to the pandemic as we welcomed 2022. Unfortunately, it is now clear that this will not be the case and that COVID is still very much present in our lives.

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However, we can remain confident in our way forward. Vaccinations are still our best defense to protect ourselves and our loved ones, so make your New Year’s resolution now – be nice, be calm, be safe … and get your booster shot.

To register for COVID vaccination appointments at Interior Health, visit GetVaccinated.gov.bc.ca or interiorhealth.ca for more information.

Dr. Sue Pollock is the Acting Medical Director for Interior Health.

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