B.C.’s top doctor says vaccine card could help move beyond COVID-19 disruption

“I encourage all British Columbians to weigh against their particular point of view today, the positive benefits of following so many other British Columbians getting vaccinated to protect yourself, to protect your families and allow us all to move forward,” he told a news conference.

Horgan called on residents to unite with a “common purpose” and see the vaccine card as a way to resume activities like going to a movie, the theatre and enjoying large gatherings, and not to view proof of vaccination as an impediment to basic government services.

“Those who want to make this more than what it is, I really don’t have much to say to them,” he said, referring to people protesting outside hospitals last week against vaccine passports.

“I do understand that people are anxious. They’re angry and they’re lashing out. I regret that.”

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said residents will need to provide their personal health number, date of birth and vaccination date for either their first or second doses to securely download a vaccine card.

“As we’re looking to the fall and the respiratory season that’s going to be upon us again, we need to have as much open as possible,” she said Tuesday, the same day that normal personal gatherings were expected to resume as part of the province’s restart plan.

However, Henry said the highly transmissible Delta variant means people who are unvaccinated are now at 12 times greater risk of infection and the risk of being hospitalized is 34 times higher compared with a vaccinated person of the same age.

Proof of vaccination status at businesses will be required starting Sept. 13 for a first dose and on Oct. 24 for two doses, though Henry said people who regularly work out at a gym, for example, won’t need to show their vaccine card every time because staff there would come to know that information.

Once verified, a digital copy can be saved on a cellphone or a copy can be printed so either could be presented along with government-issued photo identification by those who are 19 and over when entering businesses or organized events. People without access to a computer and printer can phone a Get Vaccinated call centre and have their printed copy mailed to them or visit a Service BC centre.

Henry said the card will include a secure, individualized QR code and image showing whether someone is partially or fully vaccinated or indicating that no record is found in the province’s COVID-19 immunization registry. Businesses can either scan the QR code or visually verify someone’s proof of vaccination. A mobile reader app is expected to be released in app stores before next week for businesses to scan the codes.

Until Sept. 26, people will still be able to use the paper record provided at a clinic or pharmacy after their first or second dose of a vaccine.

Over a four-day period starting on Friday, B.C. reported 2,425 new cases of COVID-19. The province said there were 5,465 active cases of COVID-19 in the province on Tuesday.

— By Camille Bains in Vancouver

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 7, 2021.

The Canadian Press

Note to readers: This is a corrected story. A previous version said the dates of both the first and second dose of a vaccine would be needed to download the card.

by The Canadian Press

B.C.’s top doctor says vaccine card could help move beyond COVID-19 disruption

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