Vaccinations for all B.C. first responders coming in ‘next few weeks’

B.C.’s top doctor says COVID-19 vaccines for all of the province’s first responders are coming within the next few weeks following recent efforts to immunize workers in coronavirus hotspots.

With COVID-19 cases surging in the Fraser Health region, police and fire fighters in Surrey and White Rock were the first to move up in the queue earlier this week.

While the province’s vaccine campaign has been focused on age groups, B.C. provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said on Thursday all first responders will be getting their jabs in the “next few weeks.”

She said the province will be specifically targeting first responders based on their work location and how much risk they’re at of contracting COVID-19.

“Not every school, not every fire service will be done this week. They’ll be … phased in over the next few weeks,” Henry said, referring to school staff who will also be receiving vaccinations ahead of the .

About 10% of the province’s supply of vaccine is being allocated to the vaccination program targeting first responders as the age-based program continues.

Meanwhile, the province administered a record 45,030 doses to all British Columbians over the past 24 hours for a total of 1,235,863 jabs to date, including second doses.

At a pace of 45,000 jabs a day, the rest of the province will receive both doses by early November.

And if that current pace keeps up, all remaining eligible British Columbians will receive at least one dose by the end of June.

So far 1,147,960 British Columbians have received at least one dose — or 26.7% of the eligible population of 4.3 million people.

A total of 1,048,547 people have registered to book vaccination appointments since the province-wide online booking system launched early last week.

Beginning Friday, those born in 1976 or earlier will be able to register to book an appointment.

Once someone registers, they receive a confirmation code and will need to await a prompt from health officials via email, text or phone informing them they can book the appointment itself.

To date, 362,887 people have booked appointments through the online sign-up.

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