If you're between 55 and 65 years of age, you can now get a COVID-19 vaccine at select Prince George pharmacies.
The province revealed on March 30 it would begin offering the AstraZeneca plc dose at 150 local pharmacies within the Vancouver Coastal Health and Fraser Health regions to those between the ages of 55 and 65.
On April 3, the province announced the program would extend to Prince George, Quesnel, Terrace, Dawson Creek, Fort St. John, Kamloops, Kelowna, Nanaimo, Parksville, Vernon and Victoria.
The rollout was planned after B.C. suspended the use of the vaccine for those under 55 amid growing global concerns it was linked to a small number of cases of blood clots to have emerged in those who have received the jab.
NEW - The AstraZeneca program for those aged 55-65 is expanding next week to: Dawson Creek, Fort St. John, Kamloops, Kelowna, Nanaimo, Parksville, Prince George, Quesnel, Terrace, Vernon and Victoria. #bcpoli #covidbc #covid19bc #covid19 #bced #cdnpoli #cityofpg @PGMatters pic.twitter.com/Z0Gb9BLpYs
— Jess Balzer (@jessicajbalzer) April 3, 2021
Those wanting a vaccine should call the pharmacies listed below or check online for booking. Some may accept walk-ins but residents are asked to call ahead.
The following pharmacies in Prince George are participating in the program:
- Costco Pharmacy #158 - 2555 Range Rd.
- Hart Drug Mart - 6707 Dagg Rd.
- Loblaw Pharmacy #1562 - 2155 Ferry Ave.
- Save-on-Foods Pharmacy #967, Spruceland - 555 Central St. West
- Shoppers Drug Mart #0210 - Spruceland Shopping Centre
- Shoppers Drug Mart #0628 - Unit 185 3055 Massey Dr.
- Shoppers Drug Mart #2226 - College Heights Plaza
- Shoppers Drug Mart #2287 - 6760 Madill Rd.
- Third Avenue Pharmacy - 1467 3rd Ave.
- Wal-Mart Pharmacy #3651 - 6565 Southridge Ave.
Provincial Health Officer Bonnie Henry says the vaccine is effective and urges residents to take advantage of the availability.
"The AstraZeneca/COVISHIELD vaccine is another important tool in our immunization program to get us past this surge of COVID-19 cases.
“We know from the millions of doses used worldwide, and especially in the U.K., it is highly effective and the benefits to those over age 55 far outweigh the very real risks of getting COVID-19."
- with files from Nelson Bennett and Tyler Orton, Business In Vancouver
