Over the past few weeks, we have all felt some relief as our most vulnerable—our grandparents, parents, and loved ones—received their vaccines. This week our rollout has sped up even more and you can now book a vaccination appointment if you’re 18+ and work at a grocery store, if you’re 30+ and live in Burnaby South, or if you’re 40+ and live anywhere else. 

If you’re 18+ and work at a grocery store:

All grocery store staff in our region who are 18 years old and older are eligible to receive the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. Employers and union representatives will provide information to staff about how to register and book appointments online, as well as an access code. Staff must provide ID and proof of employment (like a pay stub or work ID) when they arrive for their appointments.

If you’re 30+ and live in Burnaby South:

As part of the Province’s strategy to provide vaccines to people in high-transmission neighbourhoods, Fraser Health is now immunizing people ages 30 and over (born in 1991 or earlier) in nine additional neighbourhoods in our region where we are seeing high rates of COVID-19 transmission, including Burnaby South (Southeast and Southwest).

You can find out if you live in a high-transmission neighbourhood by entering your postal code into this website: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/covid-19/vaccine/neighbourhood

If you’re 40+:

People aged 40 and older will be invited to book as early as next week.

Invitations to book will be sent via text or email for:

Friday, May 7: 46+ (1975) after 7 p.m. (Pacific time)

Sunday, May 9: 43+ (1978) after 7 p.m. (Pacific time)

Tuesday, May 11: 40+ (1981) after 7 p.m. (Pacific time)

Anyone who is not yet registered can do so in one of three ways:  

1. Online, 24-7 at: gov.bc.ca/getvaccinated 
2. By phone between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. (Pacific time), toll-free, at 1-833 838-2323 
3. In person at your nearest Service BC location 

The Pfizer vaccine has now been approved by Health Canada for kids 12-17, and we’ll be integrating them into our age-based vaccine rollout. As more people become eligible and more vaccines are approved, we will continue to update our provincewide program. 

To date, over 1.9 million doses have been administered in B.C., with that number increasing every day. At this crucial time in the pandemic, I strongly urge everyone who is eligible to register and get vaccinated as soon they are able. Being immunized is the best way to protect ourselves and our communities and to put this pandemic behind us. Thank you for continuing your efforts to keep each other safe.  

I'm so proud that the Province is providing the Nikkei Seniors Health Care and Housing Society with $2 million as part of its commitment to honour the traumatic internment of almost 22,000 Japanese Canadians during the Second World War.

This initial grant is a first step toward lasting recognition of the trauma suffered by the community. We are committed to working with the National Association of Japanese Canadians over the coming year to define recognition opportunities in 2022 and beyond.

Nikkei Seniors Health Care and Housing Society will use the $2 million to develop and deliver health- and wellness-oriented programming for Japanese Canadian internment survivors. The society will also administer funding with the National Association of Japanese Canadians (NAJC) to other Japanese Canadian organizations that support survivors.

The funding will help these centres enhance their programming for seniors in assisted and independent living, as well as the local community. This will include supports for those with dementia and Parkinson's disease, community talks about current issues and concerns, and exercise classes to help seniors stay fit and healthy.

You can find more information here: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2021AG0059-000847