COVID-19 Fall Booster Campaign

In B.C., anyone five years and above is recommended to receive a fall booster dose to prolong their immune response coming into respiratory season during colder months. Once you are eligible for a COVID-19 booster dose, you will receive a notification through the province's Get Vaccinated system via email or text message.

Where to receive your fall booster

VCH welcomes community members to schedule an appointment at any VCH vaccine clinic across our region- find details of our clinic locations below. 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.

Bivalent (two-strain) vaccine

Starting the week of Monday Sept. 19, Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) COVID-19 vaccine clinics began offering immunizations with the new combination bivalent (two-strain) vaccine as part of the province's fall booster program. This vaccine type provides an immune response against the original virus strain and Omicron variants, and is expected to be effective at reducing the risk of serious illness.  This new vaccine will be available as a booster to all adults over the age of 18 years, and youth from 12-17 years who are at higher risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19.

Eligibility for fall booster

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 year's of age 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 5 year's of age.

Fall booster following COVID-19 infection

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 a person was recently infected with COVID-19, they are recommended to wait three to six months before receiving their booster dose, as the booster shot is not effective in those recently infected.

Further information about the fall booster

For further information, visit the Government of B.C.'s website or the B.C. Centre for Disease Control. You can also speak to your family doctor, nurse practitioner, or call 8-1-1 for free healthcare guidance.

Fall booster information is also available in the following languages:

简体中文 - Chinese Simplified

繁體中文 - Chinese Traditional

ਪੰਜਾਬੀ - Punjabi

Tiếng Việt - Vietnamese

Español - Spanish

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COVID-19 vaccines available for infants and children six months to four years 

Infants and children six months to four years can now be safely vaccinated against COVID-19 in B.C. Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) is operating COVID-19 vaccination clinics across communities in our region where young children can get immunized. The dedicated clinics are led by staff with training in childhood immunizations to ensure children, parents and guardians receive the highest quality of care and support. 

How to get your infant or child immunized

Register
To book an appointment, first register your infant or child in the provincial Get Vaccinated system.

You will be notified once you can book an appointment for your infant or child.

Schedule your appointment
Once you receive a notification, you can book your infant or child's appointment in the Get Vaccinated system. You can select a location, date and time that is most convenient for you. 

About infant and child COVID-19 immunizations

VCH is now welcoming infants and children from six months to four years to our vaccine clinics. Clinic staff are trained in the delivery of childhood COVID-19 immunizations, and are committed to making it a positive experience for families. The majority of clinics have established separate quiet spaces for children with special needs such as autism, sensory processing, or needle phobia. Older children from five years of age and above continue to be eligible for vaccination. Parents or guardians with several children will be accommodated for immunizations across VCH clinics.

Safety of vaccines for use in children
Health Canada rigorously reviewed efficacy and safety data to ensure the vaccine is safe, with a low risk of side effects before authorizing its use among this young age group. Getting children vaccinated from COVID-19 provides a number of critical benefits. While children six months to four years are at a lower risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19 compared to older age groups, vaccination is expected to reduce their risk further. To receive the best protection, children should receive two doses with at least eight weeks between the first and second dose.

Further information about COVID-19 immunizations for children
COVID-19 vaccination information and resources, including guidance on how to prepare children for vaccination, can be found on the BCCDC website. VCH advises anyone with questions regarding childhood COVID-19 vaccinations to speak to their family doctor, nurse practitioner, or to call 8-1-1 for healthcare guidance.

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