25.33°C Vancouver

Apr 28, 2021 1:55 AM -

B.C. offers Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine to people age 30 and up

Share On
b-c-offers-oxford-astrazeneca-vaccine-to-people-age-30-and-up
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry during a news conference in Victoria. (B.C. Government)

People age 30 and older may now receive the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine in British Columbia, starting with hot spots for transmission.

Health Minister Adrian Dix and provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry say in a statement on Tuesday the vaccine will be made available across the province as B.C. receives enough doses to add more pharmacy appointments.

Canada's National Advisory Committee on Immunization recommended last week that the vaccine may be offered to people 30 and up who don't want to wait for an approved mRNA vaccine, and if certain other conditions are met.

Those conditions include a benefit-risk analysis, informed consent, and that there would be a substantial delay to receive an mRNA vaccine. B.C. confirmed 799 new cases of COVID-19 and no new deaths on Tuesday.

There are now 8,089 active infections in the province and hospitalizations have ticked up to 500, including 164 people in intensive care.

Latest news

CanadaAug 12, 2026

Two Surveys Raise Concerns Over Canada’s Trade and Jobs

Two recent surveys on Canada’s trade outlook have raised concerns about the impact on small businesses and employment. A survey released Wednesday by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) says small Canadian exporters could face a revenue loss of at least 50 per cent if a new 50-per-cent tariff is imposed. Meanwhile, a separate survey conducted by Oxford Economics for the Canadian American Business Council has warned about the potential impact of the CUSMA trade agreement. According to the report, if CUSMA comes to an end, around 102,000 jobs in Canada could be at risk. The
canadian-government-invests-24-million-in-cannabis-and-brain-health-research
CanadaAug 12, 2026

Canadian Government Invests $24 Million in Cannabis and Brain Health Research

Canada’s federal government is investing $24 million to establish the Canadian Cannabis and Brain Health Consortium, aimed at better understanding how cannabis affects the brain and overall health. Federal Health Minister Marjorie Michel announced the funding Wednesday. Supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the consortium will bring together 10 research teams from across Canada to study the potential benefits and risks of cannabis use among people of different ages. Researchers will examine cannabis’s effects on conditions and areas including epilepsy, anxiety, po
CanadaAug 12, 2026

Canada Warns U.S. Over Tariffs Threat to Trade Talks

Canada’s chief trade negotiator Janice Charette has warned the United States that imposing new tariffs on Canadian exports starting August 19 could jeopardize the ongoing trade negotiations between the two countries. According to reports, Charette delivered the message during a key meeting last week with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. She reportedly made it clear that if the U.S. imposes a 50 per cent tariff, the federal government may not be able to contain the political and public backlash in Canada, potentially forcing Ottawa to retaliate against American imports. Sources say U
BCAug 12, 2026

Clinton Residents Fined $15,000 for Violating Evacuation Order

People who violated an evacuation order issued because of a wildfire in the B.C. village of Clinton have been fined a total of $15,000 over the past two weeks. Local authorities and police are urging residents to stay out of evacuation zones for their own safety. Clinton residents were forced to leave their homes on July 24 after a wildfire broke out near Pear Lake. The fire remains out of control and has spread across an area of approximately 1,500 square kilometres. Authorities and police have warned that anyone who enters an evacuation-order area and puts their life at risk could be issued
BCAug 12, 2026

Charges approved following break-in to Chinatown business

Crown Counsel has approved one count of break-and-enter of a commercial business after Vancouver Police arrested a suspect yesterday. Just after 7 a.m., the Vancouver Police Department responded to a report of a broken window in a business near Georgia Street and Gore Avenue. An employee reported seeing a man smash the window and enter the premises. VPD officers attended and searched the building. After reviewing video footage, they believed the man was still inside. Another witness observed a man matching the description of the suspect on a second-storey fire escape. The officers located

Related News