Following the approval last month of the Moderna bivalent COVID-19 vaccine, the Pfizer-BioNTech version has now been approved by Health Canada.

Like the Moderna bivalent vaccine, the Pfizer-BioNTech bivalent COVID-19 vaccine targets the Omicron variant, as well as the original strain of the virus.

In a statement Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, and Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.’s provincial health officer said the Pfizer bivalent vaccine would arrive in B.C. next week.

Over the following 10 days, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine will be available in both health authority clinics and pharmacies across the province, along with the currently available Moderna bivalent vaccine.

The Pfizer-BioNTech bivalent vaccine will be available to people 12 and older while the Moderna bivalent vaccine, approved on Sept. 1, 2022, is available to those 18 and older.

And next week as of Oct. 11, influenza vaccines will also be available and given either at the same time as the COVID-19 bivalent vaccine or separately.

Although the population is experiencing less severe outcomes from contracting COVID-19 as the original strain of the virus mutates and becomes less severe alongside high vaccination levels, health officials are urging everyone to continue to get booster shots.

“Both bivalent vaccines induce a stronger, more robust immune response and provide better protection against the Omicron variant and subvariants,” the two said in the statement.

“The National Advisory Committee on Immunization recommends people get either bivalent vaccine as their fall booster dose. We are aligning with this recommendation and will offer a bivalent vaccine to British Columbians receiving a booster dose in the fall.”

“As we are in respiratory illness season, we urge everyone to make sure they are up to date on their vaccines for COVID-19 and for influenza. Our COVID-19 immunization strategy has been effective in protecting people from the virus, and we must stay diligent in continuing to do so.”

For more information about COVID-19 booster shots see here.

To register with the provincial Get Vaccinated system click here.

To learn more about COVID-19 vaccines for children click here.