Omicron vaccine available to most in B.C. by end of October, health officials say – CBC

Updated Moderna vaccine targets BA.1 subvariant, not currently circulating BA.5

Sep 01, 2022

British Columbia’s top doctor and health minister say most residents should expect to be able to receive a COVID-19 booster targeting the original Omicron variant this month or in October.

Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix said in a joint statement the province is set to begin distributing doses of Moderna’s newly approved vaccine as soon as supply arrives, with more information coming next Tuesday.

Health Canada approved the so-called “bivalent” vaccine that also targets the original strain of the virus earlier on Thursday.

Henry and Dix describe the shot as more effective at protecting people from serious illness caused by Omicron. However, the Omicron subvariant most prevalent in B.C. is now the BA.5 variant, not the BA.1 variant targeted by the vaccine.

Omicron vaccine available to most in B.C. by end of October, health officials say – CBC

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