Ready for a boost? What you need to know about B.C.'s fall COVID-19 vaccination program

Provincial health authorities in B.C. arelaunching a booster shot campaignin the coming weeks,encouraging people five years and olderto get another dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

The province says if you haven't had your second orthird shot, you should get it as soon as possible. It also released new information for those waiting for a fourth dose.

Another big part of the fall rolloutis a so-called combination vaccinethat wasapproved by Health Canada Sept. 1.

Here's what else you need to know about the new vaccine, when you should get your next shotand how you can sign up. This story will be updated as we learn more.

What's the new vaccine?

The new vaccine is a combination or bivalent vaccine with a mixture of spike protein elementsfrom both the original SARS-CoV-2virus and the Omicron variant, BA.1.

"It means it's updated and it can stimulate our immune system to give better protection against the variants that we're seeing circulating right now," Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry told CBC'sOn the Coast.

The bivalent vaccine will be available to all adults over the age of 18 as well as young people ages 12 to 17 who are at high risk of a severe outcome if they catch the virus.

While other vaccines with proteins from newer Omicron variants are in the works, theone produced by Moderna is the first to get Health Canada approval.

How do I sign up for a booster?

In order to get a first dose or a booster shot, you need to make sure you're registered with the province's Get Vaccinated system. You'll need your full name, date of birth, postal code and personal health number (PHN) as well as an email address you check regularly.

If you're not able to register online or don't have a PHN you can call 1-833-838-2323 or visit one of the Service B.C. locations listedhere.

Where can I get my shot?

Appointments for booster shots will be available in community pharmacies and health authority clinics across the province. You'll be able to pick a time that fits your schedule and the appointment should take 15 to 30 minutes.

Who can sign up first?

Much like when B.C. first started rolling out COVID-19 vaccines in the summer of 2021, the Ministry of Health says invitations to sign up for booster shots will be based on risk and age as long as it's been six months since the last dose.

People over the age of 60, Indigenous people of all ages, anyone who's clinically extremely vulnerable and people such as health-care professionalswho work with high-risk, vulnerable people remain priority groups.

Henry says priority will go to people over the age of 70 and anyone who's immunocompromised. But parents and guardians with children who are heading back to school are also encouraged to sign up their kids for a booster, to make sure everyone in the classroom is protected and up-to-date with their vaccinations.

The ministry says invitations to register will start going out in the coming weeks and continue throughOctober.

When should I get my nextshot?

B.C. continues to recommend a six-month interval between doses and says it's best to get a booster shot around periods of increased risk such as the upcoming flu season.

For anyone who recently caught COVID, the B.C. Centre for Disease Controlsays you canwait up to three months after you were sick to geta booster dose, though getting a shot after your symptoms have passed is OK too.

If you haven't had a third dose, the Ministry of Health says you should get one as soon as possible, as your protection from severe illness related to COVID-19 decreases over time.

Whichvaccine should I get for my booster?

B.C. hopes to offerthe new bivalent vaccine toeveryone in the province over the age of 18 who wants it as a third or fourth dose as well as vulnerable young people between the ages of 12 and 17.

Henry says the Moderna combination shot is strongly recommended for anyone who hasn't had a third dose. The latest data shows 84 per cent of British Columbians have had two doses, but only 54 per cent have had three.

"For most of those people it's been well over six months since their second dose," said Henry. "So this is the booster dose to get, when it's available in the next few weeks."

If the bivalent vaccine isn't available, the province will be administering thepreviously approvedModerna and Pfizer mRNA vaccines. Anyone 18 and older who prefers a non-mRNA vaccine can receive the Novavax or Johnson & Johnson shots.

The province recommends that people book their fall booster appointments as soon as they receive an invitation to do so.