While Omicron spreads, B.C. vaccine clinics are closing for the holidays

While the Omicron variant rapidly spreads, community vaccine clinics across British Columbia are closing for the holidays — some for as long as two weeks.

In Prince George, the northern city's only vaccine clinic for adults will be closed from Dec. 20 to Jan. 4.

The same goes for clinics in Prince Rupert and Terrace in the northwest, while those in Fort St. John and Dawson Creek in the northeast are closed from Dec. 22 to Jan. 3.

In the Interior, there are no clinics scheduled in Kamloops from Dec. 22 to Jan. 2, while Vancouver has no clinics open from Dec. 24 to 28.

Meanwhile, many British Columbians are anxiously waiting for their opportunity to book an appointment for a third shot, as growing research indicates the threat posed by the Omicron variant even to those fully vaccinated.

"They're playing with our lives," said Jean Fares, a 62-year-old Coquitlam resident frustrated over his efforts to book an appointment for a third shot, which he is still unable to do after receiving his second one more than six months ago, on May 31.

"I'm not going out, not seeing anyone ... I want my vaccine."

Earlier this month, Canada's National Advisory Committee on Immunization strongly recommended all Canadians over the age of 50 to get a third dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine six months after their second, and suggested those age 18 to 49 do so as well.

That was before the rapid spread of the Omicron variant in the country, which has prompted Ontario to open third dose appointments to everyone age 18 and older, and Alberta to those age 50 and up.

"Nothing matters more than getting these third shots into arms," Ontario premier Doug Ford said at a news conference Wednesday.

Dr. Brian Conway of the Vancouver Infectious Diseases Centre said given the threat posed by Omicron, this ramped-up approach is the right one.

"We need to do things a little bit more quickly," he said. "This is how we got around outbreaks in June and July, we accelerated the pace of vaccines and that was very helpful."

British Columbia is involving more community pharmacies in administering COVID-19 vaccines, although that process will not be complete until mid-January.

B.C. health minister Adrian Dix says he is sticking with the same plan announced in October around administering third doses of the vaccine to priority groups, including health-care workers, Indigenous people age 18 and older, and seniors age 65 and older.