VICTORIA — British Columbians living in long-term care and assisted living homes are due to start receiving COVID-19 booster shots this week as a mask mandate begins for all students from elementary to high school.
Health officials say they are offering boosters to seniors because of the risks of living in group settings and the fact that older people have been known not to develop a strong enough antibody response from their first two vaccine doses.
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry has said the latest data shows a third dose is most effective about six months after the second.
Those eligible will be getting their extra jabs along with their influenza shots.
The province reported 1,986 cases of COVID-19 over the last three days, along with 10 deaths, for a total of 1,983 fatalities.
There are 20 active outbreaks at health-care facilities, most of them in long-term care homes.
Henry has already announced plans for a third vaccine dose for people who are most immunocompromised and says more information is coming on third doses for those whose health is not as compromised.
She and Health Minister Adrian Dix are scheduled to provide their next COVID-19 update on Tuesday.
The province says in a release that 81.6 per cent of eligible people aged 12 and up have received both doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.
It says 64.7 per cent of people diagnosed with an infection between Sept. 24 and 30 were not vaccinated.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 4, 2021.
The Canadian Press
