Front-line workers prioritized as COVID-19 vaccine rollout accelerates

More than 300,000 front-line workers will be eligible for the AstraZeneca vaccine in BC over the coming weeks.

Premier John Horgan announced in a press conference on Thursday that the Province’s COVID-19 Immunization Plan moves forward ahead of schedule, after a particularly slow start.

Beginning in April, people in priority groups identified by public health and the COVID-19 Workplace Task Group will start to receive their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

These groups include:

* K-12 educational staff;

* child care staff;

* grocery store workers;

* postal workers;

* bylaw and quarantine officers;

* manufacturing workers;

* wholesale/warehousing employees;

* staff living in congregate housing at places such as ski hills;

* correctional facilities staff; and

* cross-border transport staff.

These priority groups have been identified as workers in places and sectors where:

* the use of personal protective equipment and barriers can be challenging;

* outbreaks and clusters have occurred or are ongoing;

* workers must live or work in congregate settings; or

* maintaining the workforce for a critical service is necessary.