B.C.’s COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout Plan

British Columbians are being immunized against COVID-19 in four phases, in order of urgency and is currently in phase 2 of the immunization plan. The focus is on protecting those most vulnerable to severe illness, while Phases 3 and 4 focus on vaccinating the general public.

The AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine and Janssen vaccine were approved for use in Canada on February 26, 2021 and March 5, 2021 but both are not yet available in BC.

BC.’s vaccine delivery timeline

B.C. residents will get their vaccines in the order outlined below. This phasing is based on expert advice and guidance from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization, BC’s Immunization Committee and public health leadership committee:

Phase 1: December 20, 2020, to February 2021 – Completed ✓

• Residents and staff of long-term care facilities.
• Residents and staff of assisted-living residences.
• Individuals assessed for and awaiting long-term care.
• Essential visitors to long-term care facilities and assisted-living residences.
• Hospital health care workers who may provide care for COVID-19 patients in settings like Intensive Care Units, emergency departments, paramedics, medical units and surgical units.
• Remote and isolated Indigenous communities.

Phase 2: February to April 2021

• Seniors born in 1941 or earlier not immunized in phase 1.
  • We are pleased to report that PARC residents and all staff have received their 1st dose of the vaccination.
• Indigenous (First Nations, Métis and Inuit) seniors, born 1956 or earlier, and Elders and additional Indigenous communities not immunized in Phase 1.

The priority group below do not need to call to book their vaccinations as, arrangements will be made on your behalf by the heath authorities.

• Hospital staff, community GPs and medical specialists not immunized in Phase 1.
• Vulnerable populations living and working in select congregated settings.
• Staff in community home support and nurses caring for seniors.

Phase 3: April to June 2021

• 79 to 75 (D1 April,
• 74 to 70 (D1 April,
• 69 to 65 (D1 May/June,
• 64 to 60 (D1 June,
• People aged 69 to 16 who are clinically extremely vulnerable (D1/ April to June)

Phase 4: July to September 2021

People aged 59 to 18, in five-year increments (D1 first shot

• 59 to 55 (D1 July,
• 54 to 50 (D1 July,
• 49 to 45 (D1 July,
• 44 to 40 (D1 July,
• 39 to 35 (D1 July/August,
• 34 to 30 (D1 August,
• 29 to 25 (D1 August/September,
• 24 to 18 (D1/

For more information on the COVID-19 immunization plan, visit the BCCDC.CA website.

Proof of vaccine

Once vaccinated against COVID-19, B.C. residents will have the option to receive paper and digital copies of their vaccine record. You’ll get a paper record of each administered dose at the time of immunization, and you can sign up for the Provincial Health Gateway to access your official digital “immunization card.”

Until vaccination is widespread

Experts hope we will reach community or “herd” immunity once 60 to 70 per cent of the population has been vaccinated; however necessary threshold is still unknown. Until that time, we will have to keep working together to protect everyone by following the same precautions we’ve been taking since the pandemic began:

• Wash your hands frequently and vigorously
• Stay home when you feel any symptoms of illness
• Maintain physical distance from anyone outside your household
• Wear a mask in public indoor spaces