Eligibility 3rd Dose COVID19 Vaccination
All people living in British Columbia who are 12 years and older are eligible to get a vaccine.
A third dose of COVID-19 vaccine is recommended for some people who are moderate to severely immunocompromised.
People who are moderately to severely immunocompromised should receive a third dose of vaccine. The group includes:
For the full list visit: http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/covid-19-vaccine/vaccine-registration-eligibility
Prior AIDS defining illness or CD4 count ≤ 200/mm3 or CD4 fraction ≤ 15% or detectable plasma viral load since January 2021 or HIV infection and ≥ 65 years old or perinatally acquired HIV infection.
How to get your third dose
You will receive an invitation by text, email, or phone call through the Get Vaccinated system about how and when to book a third dose.
You must wait at least four weeks after your second dose to get your third dose.
People who are not eligible and who did not receive an invitation through the Get Vaccinated system will not be able to get a third dose.
If you believe you meet the criteria to get a third dose and have not been contacted by October 8, get in touch with your health care provider. Your health care provider can complete the Attestation Letter to confirm your eligibility for a third dose.
You do not need a third dose to be considered fully vaccinated on your BC Vaccine Card.
3rd dose vs booster
This third dose is not the same as a booster. For people who do not develop the same immune response to the first two doses of the vaccine, a third dose is needed to get a similar level of protection as others in the population. For these people, receiving a third dose to complete the initial vaccine series can help individuals create antibodies to protect them from COVID-19.
A booster dose is an additional vaccine you may get later if the protection from the initial two-dose vaccine series begins to decrease over time. A booster gets immunity back up to a desirable level of protection for an extended period of time.
