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More than 50 per cent of eligible people in B.C. have now received at least their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

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Half of B.C. residents now vaccinated

By Don Fennell

Published 5:07 PDT, Wed May 12, 2021

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B.C. is inching ever closer to the day that the vast majority of its nearly five million residents will have received at least a first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

On May 12, the province reported that more than 50 per cent of all eligible people in B.C. have received their first dose. And Premier John Horgan continues to call on everyone to get in line by registering.

"We've made extraordinary progress together over the past few weeks toward everyone getting their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine," said Premier Horgan. "COVID-19 has turned our lives upside down, but this milestone gives us hope of better days ahead. We have to keep going. We need all British Columbians to help make sure as many people as possible get their shots. Register today and talk to your friends, family and neighbours and make sure they're registered, too."

There are two clinics following the age-group vaccination process at:

• Kwantlen Polytechnic University, 8771 Lansdowne Rd.

Hours: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily through May 23

• River Rock Casino Resort (The Show Theatre), 8811 River Rd.

Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through May 13; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on May 14; 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily from May 17 to 21; and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily on May 22 and 23.

Once people are registered, they will get an email or text notification when it is their turn to book an appointment. Anyone not already registered should register now in one of three ways:

• 24/7, online: https://gov.bc.ca/getvaccinated

• through a provincial call centre between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. (Pacific time) at 1 833 838-2323, or

• in person at the nearest Service BC location.

People who do not have a personal health number can register by phone or in person. Translations are available in over 140 languages over the phone.

With more than one million doses arriving this month, B.C. is making quick progress in its immunization plan and everyone in B.C. needs to do their part to protect people and communities by helping others getting vaccinated. Workers in B.C. are eligible for up to three hours of paid leave to get each dose of their COVID-19 vaccine.

To register online, people need:

• their personal health number (found on their CareCard or on the back of their driver's licence or BC Services Card);

• postal code;

• first and last names;

• date of birth; and

• an email address that gets checked regularly or a phone number that can receive text messages.

Vaccines are also being carried out through pharmacies and at work places.

"Regardless of whether you got your first dose through a pharmacy, through your workplace as a priority worker, through a clinic of any kind, or by booking a first dose through a health authority call centre, people must now register through the Get Vaccinated system," said Dr. Penny Ballem, executive lead for B.C.'s immunization efforts. "Getting every person registered is vital to our immunization efforts in B.C. If you aren't sure whether you have registered already or have been registered, register now to help public health get you your doses of vaccine."