Island Health has received 1,950 doses of COVID-19 vaccine as of Dec. 30, but members of the general public on the Island should not expect to get vaccinated anytime soon.
A statement from Island Health said the vaccines it has received so far began to be distributed to health care workers in the Greater Victoria area on Dec. 22.
“We are still in the process of distributing our initial shipment of vaccine,” the statement said.
“Immunization clinics for staff and physicians, long-term care residents, and rural and remote First Nations communities will expand across Island Health in the coming weeks, as we receive more vaccine.”
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According to the BC Centre for Disease Control, the province hopes to have vaccine available for all those who choose to be vaccinated by the end of 2021.
“It will take time before there’s enough vaccine for everyone,” states the BCCDC’s website.
“While the immunizations take place, we will need to continue to maintain COVID-19 prevention measures. BCCDC is working closely with partners across B.C., including all regional health authorities and the First Nations Health Authority. This will make sure our system is ready to receive, handle, store and distribute all vaccine types.”
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The BCCDC said program details will be determined and communicated when the centre receives more information.
This will include which vaccines are available, when doses will arrive, and who is getting vaccinated.
As of Dec. 29, 44 more cases of COVID-19 have been identified on Vancouver Island since Christmas Eve, according to health officials.
In total, 76 cases of the virus were considered active on the Island as of Dec. 29.
The majority of the region’s active cases, 41, are located in the South Island, while 19 are active in the Central Island and 16 are reported active in the North Island.
Across B.C., 2,206 new cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed since Christmas Eve.
Health officials said that 74 more people have died of COVID-19 over the same period, bringing B.C.’s death toll to 882.
robert.barron@cowichanvalleycitizen.com
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