B.C. front-line workers to get vaccine

More than 300,000 front-line workers in British Columbia will now be eligible for COVID-19 vaccinations in the coming weeks.

The government says grocery workers, police, firefighters, teachers, postal employees and other front-line staff are considered priority groups and will be eligible to receive the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine.

Premier John Horgan says by immunizing these workers, they are making workplaces and communities throughout the province safer.

We're providing an update on BC's vaccine rollout plan moving forward.  

📺 Watch live:https://t.co/DuvtX7kmoi

— John Horgan (@jjhorgan) March 18, 2021

Health Minister Adrian Dix says the age-based rollout is ahead of schedule and with the AstraZeneca supply arriving, the province can protect those working in specific front-line industries.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced last week that workers in food processing plants, agricultural operations and industrial camps would be eligible for early vaccination.

The province says it expects to receive about 340,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine by the end of May and it plans to use a combination of community pharmacists, existing clinics and mobile clinics at some work sites to administer the vaccine to front-line workers.