B.C.’s top doctor says as soon as health officials are able to take the COVID-19 vaccines into care homes, it will be done, noting long-term care remains a priority for vaccinations in the province.

Dr. Bonnie Henry says Quebec was able to vaccinate long-term care home residents to begin with as it has two large facilities that have the required freezer capabilities, something B.C. does not have.

“They have two very large hospital/care homes which they have used as their point of arrival and pre-positioned ultra low temperature freezers which was the requirement for this first week,” she said. “We don’t have that type of facility in B.C. where there is enough numbers.”

“We are bringing people to where we can province the vaccine. The types of facilities that they have as their point of arrivals – they were able to use up those doses in that facility. So its just a different way that our healthcare system has different types of facilities.”

Henry is hoping the restrictions on the movement of the Pfizer vaccine will be eased soon so doses can be taken into care homes instead of bringing people to the vaccine.

“We are looking at as soon as we can, we will use the Pfizer vaccine but the Moderna vaccine has less stringent restrictions and it can be moved around more easily at fridge temperatures,” Henry added, noting many of the healthcare workers who work in those facilities will be getting vaccinated first.

“As soon as one or the other is available, we’ll be looking at how we can move it out to long-term care homes rapidly.”

There were 409 health care workers vaccinated against COVID-19 on Tuesday – the first day the vaccines were available in the province.

Starting next week, the province will be getting weekly vaccine deliveries for clinics in every health region throughout the province, with specific timing to follow once it is available.

Health officials say the plan to immunize 400,000 people against COVID-19 by March 2021, and Henry previously said that she expects to have everyone in the province who wants a COVID-19 vaccine to be able get it by Sept. 2021.

(Photo via BC Government)