Thread by @LizaYuzda

NEW: BC #covid19 vaccine rollout
- front line/essential workers may move up in priority line
with Astra Zeneca suggested for ppl under 65
- 2nd doses now at 4 months not 42 days (frees up 75000 shots now)
- remains age based overall 90+ in community March 15
#bcpoli @NEWS1130

To ease pressure / bottlenecks other regions have seen, #covid19 vaccine booking will be done a week ahead of age group eligibility and prioritizing phone booking for those older and pushing younger to book online
#bcpoli @NEWS1130

With Astra Zeneca - looking at how those can best be used/targetted to front line workers. [fire, corrections, police, essential workers who can not work from home (food processing, mail distribution, manufacturing, poultry processing, agricultural wokers)]
#bcpoli @NEWS1130

The decision to extend duration between first - second doses to 4 months DBH says came looking at data from around the world (UK, Israel) & here seeing the immunity lasts at least 4 months. Extension is for all three types of vaccine.
#bcpoli @NEWS1130

Will be monitoring vaccine effectiveness going forward.
And are also revisiting the restrictions on visits to LTC centres.
#bcpoli @NEWS1130 #covid19

Many have wondered if they can choose what vaccine they will get. Sort of. If you are front line worker offered Astra Zeneca you can choose to wait for your age group for Pfizer. But strongly recommends ppl take shot as soon as they are offered one.
#bcpoli @NEWS1130 #covid19

Age is the main criteria for determining who gets vaccines, that age group is 15 years younger for indigenous people because of increased risk. Some small, very remote communities will be vaccinated en masse because of logistics.
#bcpoli @NEWS1130 #covid19

Getting your shot time slot:
Call in and make an appt starting March 8
each Health authority will have a unique number
To manage volume (175000 over 80) doing in five year age groups 90+, 85+, 80+ insetad of all calling at once
Here's the date breakdown
#bcpoli @NEWS1130 #covid19

Dr Ballem again urging **ONLY CALL WHEN AGE ELIGIBLE**
If ppl ump ahead of age group it's just going to overwhelm the system.
You don't have to call only that day/week you can call after
Family or friends can make appt for loved one
#bcpoli @NEWS1130 #covid19

Warn loved ones phising has happened already.
Health won't ask for banking infomation. They will ask:
First/last name, date of birth, postal code, personal health number (on back of DL or BC Service Card, Care card) and contact information (phone/email)
#bcpoli @NEWS1130 #covid19

Here is a sample run down of how booking will go.
If not their week yet will be asked to call back.
If wait time is very long ppl will be asked to call back later.
Hoping everyone will help manage this by only calling when eligible.
#bcpoli @NEWS1130 #covid19

And here are the province's what-if scenarios for calling in to get an appt.
#bcpoli @NEWS1130 #covid19

By April there will be online booking system that will ease pressure on system/streamline the process.
To start though here are the first few age groups.
#bcpoli @NEWS1130 #covid19

March to April will see 400000 vaccinated.
These next two weeks health authorties working on elderly in communal settings.
#bcpoli @NEWS1130 #covid19

Questions: can ppl choose their vaccine
DBH - limited choice. Front line workers/first responders can choose to take AZ or wait for age group to get Pfizer or Moderna. Again suggests ppl take first vax offered.
#bcpoli @NEWS1130 #covid19

Q when will we see numbers /website to book?
HA prepping communication plans will be released by end of day. At this point only @fraserhealth will have online. BUT first date to book is March 8th
#bcpoli @NEWS1130 #covid19

Q-registering for those 70+ can they do ahead of time with BC Services Card?
Dr Ballem - basically, no. if you have bc services card it can enable you registering in mass vaccination in mid april but is not necessary at any time.
#bcpoli @NEWS1130 #covid19

Q indep living -- will you still get oneif not 90?
Dr B - going to these facilities and will be doing everyone in these facilities residents and staff regardless of age because everyone at risk. Home care will have mobile units to ensure no waste
#bcpoli @NEWS1130 #covid19

Q if call number available won't everyone just call (2 million called for 170,000 eligible in AB)
Dr B -- It is an issue all regions have faced. Working to be proactive to ensure ppl know why segmenting into 5 year increments - to tet to most at risk
#bcpoli @NEWS1130 #covid19

con't counting on everyone to focus on this age group - by age group to ensure they get their protection.
Depend on community orgs to get info out.
If call centre goes down will get it back up but hope to avoid this.
#bcpoli @NEWS1130 #covid19

Q staffing - -will there be a shortage in call centres and vaccinations?
Dr B - yes, require a lot of staff. Start with immunizers needed and work backward from there.
#bcpoli @NEWS1130 #covid19

con't DBH says have order that allows a large group of ppl former doctors, front line workers, other health workers who can work in clinics.
#bcpoli @NEWS1130 #covid19

Q-delaying second dose means everyone could get first dose by July?
DBH - focused on second dose clinics starting july now that new vaccines are coming on line. rejigging time line.
#bcpoli @NEWS1130 #covid19

Q are teachers in priority group
DBH - fire, police, corrections are all at top of line. But also have massive group of ppl who keep our society running in pandemics - educators, poutry production, grocery. will be prioritized by risk
#bcpoli @NEWS1130 #covid19

Q vaccination clinics
Vaccination clinics will be in community centers, other places used often for flu. Into April - will see massive locations in large communites not like have been used before. Smaller communities more traditional locations.
#bcpoli @NEWS1130 #covid19

Q what could derail this plan? How confident are you in supply being what's expected/ more?
Dr B. yes there have been hiccups. but have confidence even though vaccines produced outside canada limitis our control but have contracted for more than needed.
#bcpoli @NEWS1130 #covid19

Q what about ppl who get vaccine then live like there's no pandemic (you can still transmit even with vaccine)
DBH- next step would be outdoor gathering, or small indoor *IN SPRING NOT THERE YET*. We are a way off from enough vaccinated & also variant
#bcpoli @NEWS1130 #covid19

cont We have to keep going but the end is in sight.
We are weeks/months away from the end of this marathon.
There is an end point. This is not a grey space ahead.
#bcpoli @NEWS1130 #covid19

While the focus today is the first groups 90+ and working way backwards - it is big for everyone. That by July - JULY - the focus will be on second vaccine doses. Meaning most of us should have our first doses or getting them around then.
#bcpoli @NEWS1130 #covid19

Q concerns of health care workers not wanting to be vaccinated
DBH - focused on vaccine confidence. There is so much evidence that they work and are safe. Says uptake of health care workers is good but not universal. Some communities more challenging
#bcpoli @NEWS1130 #covid19

Misinformation is a challenge DBH says. Telling people to go to the source @CDCofBC.
Says heard were more concerns about RNA vax - the Pfizer and Moderna because new technology.
AZ is previously used technology so some have more confidence of that.
#bcpoli @NEWS1130 #covid19

Q schools - with variant, greater concerns - might teachers move up priority for vax or extend mask measures
DBH- areas with more community cases have more exposures in schools but not greater transmissions in schools. Tchrs are on essential wrkr list
#bcpoli @NEWS1130 #covid19

Q-how do you plan to deal with advere events, misinformation about this?
Have process for reporting adverse events (allergic reaction, etc) DBH reports on this weekly & says why they watch v closely who has rec'd what vax/lot....
#bcpoli @NEWS1130 #covid19

con't Is possible with all vaccines including these for covid to have severe allergic reation or anaphalxysis. Have had 12 here all recovered. This is why ppl wait at clinics to see if reactions.
No deaths in Canada or worldwide from vaccine.
#bcpoli @NEWS1130 #covid19

Premier @jjhorgan says it hasn't been a year since #covid19 restricitons started. Thought then it could be 18 months before a vaccine. But we have one less than a year in and by 18 months most in BC should have their first shot.
#bcpoli @NEWS1130 #covid19