Only certain populations currently eligible for fourth COVID-19 dose, says Adrian Dix

A health-care worker prepares a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at a UHN COVID-19 vaccine clinic in Toronto on Thursday, January 7, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

By John Ackermann and Denise Wong and Claire Fenton

Posted June 10, 2022 3:14 pm.

Last Updated June 10, 2022 3:28 pm.

Most British Columbians hoping to get a fourth dose — or second booster — of the COVID-19 vaccine will have to keep on waiting.

B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix says it is only being offered to certain populations.

“Right now in B.C., it’s people who are clinically vulnerable because of their immune systems — that’s about 100,000 people who are eligible — plus people over 70. Right now, about 273,000 British Columbians have received their fourth dose,” he said.

Dix notes most people received their third dose within the past six months.

“We started significantly bringing booster doses to the broader population in January, so most people wouldn’t be eligible [for a fourth dose], in any event. But that provides adequate protection right now for those in those age categories. You want to give a vaccine where it can be most effective.”

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Last month, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said protection from a third dose is “good enough to get us through Omicron.” She said the province looks at hospitalization data and breakthrough cases, and people who have compromised immune systems — such as solid organ transplant recipients — need that extra boost.

“We look at our hospitalization data, so who is … vaccinated with three doses that is ending up having more severe illness? And that is people with severe clinically immune compromising conditions,” she said at the time. “That’s where we are targeting this fourth dose.”

When asked why pregnant patients were not being prioritized for a fourth dose, Henry said they have not seen a breakthrough in immunity among those who had received three shots.

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However, the Minister Dix believes fourth doses will become increasingly available over time.

“We’re looking at the same things as other provinces such as Ontario are doing,” he said.

 With files from Liza Yuzda

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