B.C. bumps up COVID-19 booster program, people pushing for appointments

B.C. has expanded its COVID-19 booster shot eligibility to everyone over 18 years old, but many are still wondering when they will get invitations to book their appointments.

On Friday, the province announced the shift from an age-based rollout to anyone who received their second vaccine six months or more ago.

Nicola Racinelli, a special education teacher, is among the many who’ve been trying to get an appointment. She says she called the booking line on Sunday after her friends and colleagues had received an invitation before her, despite having had their second dose after her.

British Columbians wait for booster doses as province clears massive backlog

Persistence is key when it comes to getting booster shots in B.C. now that everyone 18+ is eligible at 182 days. This from a Surrey teacher past her six-month mark who says it took two calls to the booking line to get on the list. Liza Yuzda reports.

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She says she was initially told she would have to wait for an invitation to book her booster, despite her eligibility.

So, Racinelli called again until she could confirm an appointment.

“I waited about five hours and I was on hold for 20 or so minutes then the guy who helped me said it’s been 212 days so he will book me for my booster,” she told CityNews.

“It took me a while to get my head in the game and be like, ‘Okay, call again and if they say no then that’s fine.’ But he was lovely and he was like, ‘Yep, I’ll do it right now,’ and it was awesome.”

Many people past their six-month mark are sharing similar experiences. They say others who are closer to six months are getting invites first.

Related articles:

• B.C. COVID-19: Vaccines, boosters key to ending pandemic, says expert

• Head of B.C. vaccine program reminding thousands who’ve received invitation to book booster shots

On Friday, during B.C.’s final COVID-19 update of 2021, the province admitted many people had gone beyond the six-month timeline since their second shot. There are 800,000 people who have passed the182 day mark since their second dose.

Meanwhile, Dr. Penny Ballem, the executive lead of B.C.’s COVID-19 Immunization Program, noted thousands of people who had received an invitation for a booster had yet to RSVP for an appointment.

According to Racinelli, “patience and persistence” are extremely important when seeking an invitation to book a booster shot appointment.

– With files from Liza Yuzda