Ministry of Health update
In yesterday’s joint statement on B.C.’s COVID-19 response, Dr. Bonnie Henry, Provincial Health Officer, and Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, reported 874 cases yesterday. Of the new cases, 187 people were in the Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) region.

The total number of people who have tested positive for COVID-19 in B.C. now stands at 128,763 since the start of the pandemic. There are 7,996 active cases of COVID-19 across B.C. currently.

Across the province, there was one new COVID-19 related death, while 503 people are currently hospitalized, with 178 of these cases receiving treatment in ICU/critical care. The total number of individuals who have passed away due to COVID-19 is 1,577.

Dr. Henry reminds the public travel orders are in place and residents are required to stay within one of the three provincial zones unless it is for essential travel, like medical care to receive a vaccine, or to support a family member in a crisis.

She is urging people to stay within their own community, specifically noting the greatest level of transmission in the Lower Mainland region. She says hospitals in these regions are feeling the strain more than ever, and hospitals in smaller communities don't have the capacity to carry any additional burden. Smaller communities with limited health-care services are asking people to stay away while the provincial travel orders are in place. For people who live in the Lower Mainland zone and may have a second home, or are planning an escape to the Sunshine Coast or Sea to Sky corridor, Dr. Henry asks they stay away right now on behalf of those communities.

Minister Dix provided and update on the numbers of surgeries postponed from April 19 - 25. The total number of surgeries postponed was 398, with 197 in VCH. For the week of April 12-18, health authorities completed 7,045 surgeries in total, with 1,735 in VCH. He says the most recent reports make clear this is a particularly challenging time in the COVID-19 fight with pressures on health-care staff and hospitals that B.C. has not seen to this point of the pandemic.

COVID-19 vaccine update
Since the start of immunizations, 1,749,375 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and AstraZeneca/COVISHIELD  COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in B.C. In total, 36 per cent of all eligible British Columbians have been vaccinated.

To date, B.C has received 1,302,990 doses of the Pfizer vaccine, administering 1,189,756 doses. The province is expecting the next supply of Pfizer next week to include 276,000 doses. With the Moderna vaccine, B.C. has received 354,800 doses and administered 309,485 doses. The federal government says more would be coming in the month of May. With AstraZeneca vaccine, B.C. received 314,700 doses with 231,338 of those doses administered by the end of last week.

Dr. Henry reiterated that registering through the provincial online platform or call centre (1-833-838-2323) is the most efficient way to get your vaccine in one of B.C.’s immunization programs. She says when you're in the system, you will be notified. And you will be guaranteed your vaccine in that clinic that you have been booked into. Dr. Henry explained though clinics might not seem busy at times, that’s because B.C. has a lot of capacity to deliver vaccines through those programs around the province.

Dr. Henry noted that starting next week, B.C. expects to receive the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which is a single dose viral vector vaccine. This vaccine will be integrating into the province’s immunization program, with more information about plan early next week.

Updated information on who should get a COVID-19 vaccine can be found here and there is more information about vaccine aftercare here. More information and immunization data is available through this page: BCCDC.

Updates to VCH’s implementation of B.C.’s immunization plan
The AstraZeneca/COVISHIELD vaccine is available for people born in 1991 and earlier (age 30+). Book directly at a participating pharmacy for an appointment or to join a waitlist. The participating pharmacies are listed on the BC Pharmacy Association website. The list of pharmacies will be updated regularly. Appointments for AstraZeneca cannot be booked through the provincial vaccine appointment booking line.
 
Provincial registration for a COVID-19 vaccine continues for those born in 2003 or earlier (age 18 years of age and older). People born in 1965 or earlier (56 years of age and older), Indigenous people born in 2003 or earlier (18 years of age and older) and people who are clinically extremely vulnerable are currently being invited to book an appointment to be vaccinated as part of B.C.’s Immunization Plan. Information on how to register for an appointment can be found here.
 
Please check your scheduled appointment date, time and location; arrive on time for your appointment and avoid arriving early. Wear a short-sleeve shirt as the vaccine will be delivered to your upper arm. You will be monitored after receiving your vaccine for 15 minutes.
 
S.U.C.C.E.S.S. and VCH host another COVID-19 information session in Mandarin
In partnership with S.U.C.C.E.S.S., VCH is pleased to be hosting another information session about the COVID-19 immunization rollout on Saturday, May 1 at 4 p.m. Led by Dr. Clement Kwok, the presentation will cover what you need to know about B.C.’s COVID-19 Immunization Plan, including who should receive the COVID-19 vaccine, the kinds of vaccines available in Canada, the safety and effectiveness of the vaccines, when and how to book a vaccination appointment, and what to expect during and after visiting the vaccination clinic. Please click here to learn more and to register for the session.

S.U.C.C.E.S.S. and VCH host another COVID-19 information session in Mandarin
In partnership with S.U.C.C.E.S.S., VCH is pleased to be hosting another information session about the COVID-19 immunization rollout on Saturday, May 1 at 4 p.m. Led by Dr. Clement Kwok, the presentation will cover what you need to know about B.C.’s COVID-19 Immunization Plan, including who should receive the COVID-19 vaccine, the kinds of vaccines available in Canada, the safety and effectiveness of the vaccines, when and how to book a vaccination appointment, and what to expect during and after visiting the vaccination clinic. Please click here to learn more and to register for the session.

BC COVID-19 SPEAK Survey
As part of British Columbia’s Public Health response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the BCCDC is looking for your support to promote the BC COVID-19 SPEAK Round 2 Survey. We encourage you and those in your networks to participate in this survey to help us examine how British Columbians have been affected one year into the pandemic, and how their experiences may inform recovery and re-opening. The survey is currently open to all British Columbia residents aged 18 years and older until Sunday, May 9, 2021. You can take the survey here.

Resource toolkit:

COVID-19 vaccination update for Kensington neighbourhood residents
[English] | [简体中文 Chinese Simplified] | [繁體中文 Chinese Traditional] | [ਪੰਜਾਬੀ Punjabi] | [Español Spanish] | [Tagalog] | [Tiếng Việt Vietnamese]
 
Vaccine safety information:
[English] | [简体中文 Chinese Simplified] | [繁體中文 Chinese Traditional] | [한국어 Korean] | [ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ Punjabi‎] | [Tagalog]
 
Bilingual COVID-19 vaccine safety posters:
[ Chinese Simplified] | [繁體中文 Chinese Traditional] | [ فارسی Farsi‎] | [한국어 Korean] | [ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ Punjabi‎] | [Tagalog]
 
Aftercare information:
[English] | [ العربية  Arabic] | [American Sign Language - ASL] | [简体中文 Chinese Simplified] | [繁體中文 Chinese Traditional]| [ فارسی Farsi] | [Français French] | [한국어 Korean] | [ਪੰਜਾਬੀ Punjabi] | [Español Spanish] | [Tigrinya] | [Tiếng Việt Vietnamese]
 
COVID-19 vaccine posters:
[English] | [简体中文 Chinese Simplified‎] | [繁體中文 Chinese Traditional] | [ فارسی Farsi‎] | [한국어 Korean] | [ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ Punjabi‎] | [Tiếng Việt Vietnamese]
 
VCH website information and Questions & Answers:
[English] | [العربية  Arabic] | [American Sign Language – ASL] | [简体中文 Chinese Simplified] | [繁體中文 Chinese Traditional] | [ فارسی Farsi‎] | [Français French] | [한국어 Korean] | [Español Spanish] | [Tagalog] | [Tiếng Việt Vietnamese]
 
COVID-19 vaccine information sessions hosted by S.U.C.C.E.S.S. and VCH (Cantonese and Mandarin)
[Cantonese] | [Mandarin]
 
COVID-19 vaccine Q&A with Dr. Ray Chaboyer
[English]