Do people in B.C. have to register for their second COVID-19 shot?

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Question:

Lolita Cofman is a senior who recently received her first dose of COVID-19 vaccine. She wants to know if she still needs to register for her second shot, so she can be alerted when it’s time for her to get it.

Answer:

Anyone who’s already received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine in B.C. was supposed to automatically be signed up to be alerted when it is time for their second dose to be administered.

However, on May 10, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry confirmed some people who thought they were already registered for their second dose may not be because their contact information hadn’t been updated.

“Our registration system has names, but not contact information necessary, so we are doing outreach. A lot of people in long-term care and many of the First Nations communities that had immunization by communities, you will be contacted,” she explained. “We’re going back into long-term care homes and providing second doses. Those things have started now as we reach that point. We started it at 13 weeks versus 16 weeks to make sure that we can get those second doses prior to 16 weeks.”

The province is working with each health authority to ensure you are alerted when you are eligible to receive the booster shot.

Right now, second doses are being booked for delivery four months after the first dose has been given. However, B.C.’s top doctor has said some people may be able to get that second shot sooner than expected with the arrival of shipments.

Henry says outreach work continues to make sure people get their booster shot within 16 weeks.

If you haven’t been notified to get your second dose of vaccine at least 13 weeks after your first one was administered, you may not be registered and should confirm you are.

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Related articles: 

• COVID-19 vaccinations in B.C.: What you need to know

• Expanded AstraZeneca vaccine eligibility

• Can you book more than one COVID-19 vaccine appointment at a time?

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Most people will be notified by email, text, or phone when they are eligible to book an appointment for their booster shot.

The date of your first dose is on the COVID-19 Immunization Record Card given to you on that day.

If you have lost that card, your immunization record can also be found online in the Health Gateway system provided by the provincial government.

Find a full list of previously answered questions and submit your own on our Gets Answers page.

Editor’s note: This article has been updated to include the latest information, provided on May 10, when Henry clarified that some people may not have been automatically signed up to be notified for their second shot.