By Times Chronicle Staff

Interior Health has noted the end of the respiratory illness season and announced the start of the spring COVID-19 vaccine boosters.

Starting Monday, April 8 British Columbians have access to a free spring COVID-19 vaccine booster to maintain and extend protection for themselves and their loved ones against serious illnesses from COVID-19, Interior Health said.

BC’s COVID-19 spring program is focused on providing vaccines to those most at risk of severe COVID-19 illness or complications, and people who have not yet received an updated vaccine dose.

But anyone who feels they would benefit from an additional dose of the XBB.1.5 COVID-19 vaccine is also eligible. There are approximately 3.9 million people in BC who have not received a COVID-19 XBB.1.5 vaccine.

“While the peak of the respiratory illness season has passed, the SARS CoV-2 virus continues to circulate at lower levels in the community,” it said.

“The protection from infection that COVID-19 vaccines provide decreases over time, particularly in older people, so a spring COVID-19 vaccine booster will ensure people stay protected.”

The spring booster is available at pharmacies, regional health-authority clinics, some primary-care offices, and community health centres for everyone six months and older.

The health authority noted that with the decreased rates of viral respiratory infections in the community, additional infection prevention and control measures implemented in fall 2023 in health-care settings are no longer required at all times.

Individuals are still urged to wear masks in health-care settings as appropriate, to continue to cover coughs and stay away from others when feeling sick.

Health-care workers will continue to wear appropriate personal protective equipment, such as masks and respirators, in accordance with their point-of-care risk assessments.

Aligned with advice from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization, BC health officials recommend the following people consider receiving an additional dose of the XBB.1.5 COVID-19 vaccine:

  • Adults 65 and older;
  • Indigenous adults 55 and older;
  • Adult residents of long-term care homes and assisted-living facilities (including those awaiting placement);
  • Individuals six months and older who have been diagnosed as clinically extremely vulnerable (a CEV 1 or CEV 2 condition).

Invitations started going out on Monday, April 8 and reminders will be sent out to those who have not yet received an XBB.1.5 dose and to those who fit the listed categories.

For more information contact the call centre at 833-838-2323 to book an appointment or walk into a pharmacy where the vaccine is available. Vaccine appointment capacity is available in all regions.