Getting your first booster dose
For most people, their initial vaccination was 2 doses of vaccine. In 2021, this offered very good protection from severe illness related to COVID-19, but protection decreases over time.
For full protection, everyone 5 and older needs a booster dose. Even if you’ve had COVID-19, you still need a booster. With no booster doses, your vaccinations aren’t up to date.
Additional boosters
Everyone 5 and older can get a bivalent vaccine for their COVID-19 booster. Bivalent vaccines provide the best protection against COVID-19 and its variants.
If you have not yet received a bivalent booster, you can get one 6 months after your last dose.
Who can get a spring booster
B.C. is offering a spring booster dose to people most at risk based on recommendations from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization.
Invitations have been going out since April to the following groups.
People in long-term care
If you are living in a long-term care facility, you will receive your spring booster from a health care worker who visits you.
Seniors and Indigenous people
You will get an invitation from the Get Vaccinated system to book an appointment if you are:
- 60 years or older
- 50 years or older and Indigenous
People who are moderately to severely immunocompromised. You will get an invitation from the Get Vaccinated system to book an appointment if you are 18 or older.
For most people, one bivalent booster dose currently offers enough protection. If you are 18 years or older, received your last bivalent booster 6 months ago and think you need another bivalent booster this spring, contact the call centre for more information.
Call 1-877-838-2323 Monday to Friday, 7 am to 7 pm. Translators are available.
Outside Canada and the USA: 1-604-681-4261.
Telephone for the Deaf: Dial 711
Video Relay Services sign language interpretation is free for people who are deaf, hard of hearing or speech-impaired.