- Managing your Practice
-
- Your Benefits
-
- Advocacy & Policy
-
Creating Positive Change
At Doctors of BC, we help doctors provide better care for their patients. Find out how in this video.
-
- Collaboration
- News & Events
- About Us
-
With COVID-19 vaccines currently being administered in BC, many of you will have questions about the vaccine – is it safe; is it effective and more.
We hope that the following information answers some of those questions as BC’s Immunization Plan rolls out across our province.
Detailed Qs and As are available for the public on COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions | Immunize BC
The information on this web page is based on updates from the BCCDC, and the provincial government.
Yes, it is safe and effective to interchange vaccines, either between mRNA vaccines (Pfizer, and Moderna) or interchanging mRNA with viral vector vaccines (AstraZeneca, COVISHELD, or Johnson & Johnson). Although, as with all vaccines, it is preferable to have the same vaccine for both doses.
For those who received a first dose of AstraZeneca, there will be a choice in what comes next::
You can go to your appointment by yourself, make plans with friends to get appointments at the same time, or ask a parent or trusted adult to help you. Under the Infants Act, you can give consent as a mature minor to receive health care, such as getting a vaccine.
Yes. Register all children born in 2009 or earlier (12+) in your household or group who need to get vaccinated. Following registration, you only need to book one appointment.
For example, if you have a 13 year old and a 16 year old needing to be vaccinated, register both. When you get a booking notification for either child, only book one appointment. Take both children to the appointment and both will get vaccinated.
You can also book separate appointments for each child if that is your preference.
For more details about booking appointments as a family, visit the BC government website.
It is recommended that the following people consult with their health care provider to discuss if the benefits are greater than the possible risks from the COVID-19 vaccine. People who:
Recommendations may change as more evidence on safety and/or effectiveness in these populations becomes available.
The response to this question can be found here.
The COVID-19 vaccines approved in Canada, requiring either one or two doses, provide excellent protection against the COVID-19 virus, preventing up to 95% of infections and serious illness.