by Timothy Schafer
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Nelson Daily
The next round of COVID-19 immunization clinics begin this week in Nelson and across the Kootenay-Boundary Health Region.
People will be able to get better protection against COVID-19 at the Chahko Mika Mall beginning Sept. 19 as the province rolls out the bivalent vaccine through its fall booster program with a clinic for children aged four months to 11 years old beginning Sept. 14 at the Nelson Health Centre.
The new vaccine will be available to all people over the age of 18 and youth from 12-to-17 years who are at high risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19. Invitations are now going out to people for the new vaccine.
“This vaccine offers enhanced protection against COVID-19 by targeting the original virus strain and is effective against Omicron subvariants, which continue to be the most common subvariants in B.C.,” noted a press release from the Interior Health Authority.
The invitations for the vaccine will be based on risk and age, as long as it has been six months since the previous dose for the person in question.
Priority groups include people over the age of 60, Indigenous people of all ages, people who are clinically extremely vulnerable and people — such as eligible health-care workers — who work with high-risk and vulnerable individuals.
Clinics in Nelson occur on Sept. 19, 20, 21, 23, 26, 27 and 29, as well as Oct. 3-4. A listing of all clinics in the region can be found at: https://www.interiorhealth.ca/health-and-wellness/disease-outbreaks/covid-19/immunization-clinics#kootenay-boundary—-ages-6-months-to-11-years-only-clinics.
Children and youth, from five to 17, are also eligible for booster doses. Parents will receive invitations to book booster appointments when their children are eligible.
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