COVID-19 Vaccines in Pharmacies Guidance Documents
The following guidance documents are co-developed with the British Columbia Ministry of Health.
Current State: AstraZeneca
The B.C. Ministry of Health has provided updated guidance that pharmacists may administer AstraZeneca vaccine as a 1st dose in two circumstances, since a documented referral is no longer mandatory:
- To individuals with a contraindication to the mRNA vaccines
- To individuals who refuse mRNA vaccines but without contraindication, who indicate that they will only be vaccinated against COVID-19 with AstraZeneca vaccine
Current State: Moderna
On Aug. 27, 2021, Health Canada approved Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for individuals 12 years of age and older. See Summary of NACI statement: Recommendation on the use of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines in adolescents 12 to 17 years of age.
Priority group: Moderna is indicated in adults 12 years of age and older. Pharmacies can provide a complete series of the vaccine (dose 1 and/or dose 2).
BCCDC has created a Healthcare Provider Q&A document which includes general and evolving information about COVID-19 vaccines in B.C. It can be found on the COVID-19 vaccination toolkit for health professionals webpage.
Current State: Pfizer
Priority group: Pfizer is indicated in individuals 12 years of age and older. Pharmacies can provide a complete series of the vaccine (dose 1 and/or dose 2).
Age is based on year of birth (i.e., the vaccine may be offered to individuals who will be turning 12 years of age within the current calendar year), per Provincial Health Officer recommendations.
ImmsBC System
ImmsBC is the provincial central booking and inventory system for COVID-19 vaccines. Pharmacies involved in the Pfizer pilot program must be registered with the ImmsBC system. This program evaluates the potential expanded use of ImmsBC system in pharmacies to support the provincial Dose 3 program. Click here to access the instructions and training content for the ImmsBC system.