COVID vaccine offered at all Fraser Health long-term care, assisted living homes
Posted January 15, 2021 3:48 pm.
Last Updated January 15, 2021 3:49 pm.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – By the end of Friday, Fraser Health says it will have offered the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in all 151 of its long-term care and assisted living facilities.
But that doesn’t mean every single person at those homes is protected, says to the health authority’s chief executive Dr. Victoria Lee.
“Not 100 per cent of all staff, medical staff and residents would have been completed. But we have done the vast majority of those … as well as some essential visitors.”
She says there is a range of reasons why some people have not yet been given the shot.
“Sometimes there’s contraindications. Some people are not eligible. Sometimes, people have had influenza vaccines [and they] need to wait another 14 days from influenza vaccine to this vaccine,” she said.
Still, Lee says the vast majority of long-term care residents and staff have been vaccinated, as well as some essential visitors.
Related article: Canada secures 20 million more doses of Pfizer vaccine
Meanwhile, there could be a delay in getting people completely immunized in B.C., due to the expected delays in the COVID-19 vaccine delivery from Pfizer. However, Health Minister Adrian Dix says it remains to be seen what exactly what effect this delivery delay will mean for B.C.’s rollout.
As of Friday, the health minister said 75,914 people had been given their first shot of Pfizer or Moderna. At this time, it’s not clear if any of them will have to wait longer than 35 days for their second one.
Federal Procurement Minister Anita Anand confirmed Friday that there would be temporary reductions in Pfizer’s ability to deliver vaccines to Canada.
“This is a temporary delay and we remain on track to have enough approved vaccines for everyone who wishes to be vaccinated by the end of September,” she said.
Procurement Minister @AnitaOakville says Pfizer has informed the government there will be a delay in vaccine production. The Minister says the drug company has assured Canada that they expect to catch up by the end of March #cdnpoli
— Cormac Mac Sweeney (@cmaconthehill) January 15, 2021
-With files from Marcella Bernardo, Cormac Mac Sweeney, and Hana Mae Nassar
