First COVID-19 vaccination given in British Columbia

The first COVID-19 vaccination has been administered in British Columbia.

Health Minister Adrian Dix confirmed the immunization had taken place with a picture on his Twitter account.

1st day of BC’s province-wide COVID-19 immunizations. pic.twitter.com/QBsPTKAokC

— Adrian Dix (@adriandix) December 15, 2020

Health-care workers in long-term care facilities and intensive care units are the first to get vaccinated in British Columbia.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said last week that an initial shipment of 4,000 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine will be available at two clinics in the regions covered by the Vancouver Coastal and Fraser health authorities, before immunization is eventually expanded to 30 sites.

Henry has declined to reveal the location of the clinics.

Last week, she said the government has credible information from national and international sources that there are people targeting vaccines.

Dix tweeted that the first immunization is a "hopeful day for all of us" in B.C.

"Among the very first people to receive it are those who care for and support BC’s seniors; by getting immunized, they are helping to protect those most vulnerable to #COVID19 and helping us all get one step closer to ending this pandemic."