Far fewer staff in B.C. administering COVID-19 shots despite three vaccine rollouts

Despite the province running a number of immunization rollouts, B.C. government numbers show there are now far fewer staff able to administer the shot.

According to the government, there are 1,230 fewer people giving shots now, which is a 30 per cent drop.

“It is really quite concerning, given that there are multiple streams of vaccination that are needing to happen,” said Dr. Anna Wolak, a family doctor and vaccine advocate.

Right now, the province is in the process of sending invitations for booster shots to British Columbians aged 70 and up, Indigenous peoples aged 18 and up, people living in long-term care, health-care workers, and people who received AstraZeneca for their first two doses.

Starting next month, everyone aged 18 and up will begin receiving booking invitations, provided they received their second dose at least six months earlier.

The province is also only in its second week of the rollout of pediatric vaccine doses, and there are still some British Columbians booking their first or second doses.

“To cut [staffing] down just seems short-sighted, to say the least,” Wolak said, adding health-care workers are tired and feeling burnout.

“People are tired. It’s been a long slog for 20 months. And I get it.”

Wolak adds she’s also heard from health-care workers who are scared for their safety because of protesters outside vaccination sites.

“In primary care, we’re seeing a lot more patients, we’re feeling the effects of the pandemic, and there’s just the usual care that we’re providing at this time. So it can feel a bit overwhelming.”

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She and other staff are urging people who are able to administer vaccines to sign up.

“Because it is needed. And we do need this as we are facing Omicron coming into the province.”

While Wolak would like to see family practitioners involved in vaccinations like they are in other provinces she understands there is a lot of nuance to that decision beyond the short time limit on open COVID-19 vaccine vials.

“With getting the family physicians involved there, especially with the latest report from the Canadian Medical Association showing that the healthcare system is under strain. And a lot of family physicians are needed to provide that sort of care and addressing those issues as well.”

According to the province, 750 more pharmacies will be added the booster effort in January for those aged 12 and up. That means there will be 1,000 pharmacy options across the province.