Information on this page is for staff who work at long-term care or assisted living facilities located within Island Health. This spring, COVID-19 vaccines will be administered to residents of LTC and Assisted Living Facilities.
The 2023-2024 Influenza season is now complete. For more information regarding Influenza vaccine please check back in the fall of 2024. In exceptional circumstances Influenza vaccine may be available at your local Public Health unit. Please contact your local Public Health unit for more information.
- Immunization Information for Healthcare Professionals
- Immunizations Courses for Health Professionals
- Vaccine Management
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- All staff who monitor, handle or administer vaccine must be familiar with the cold chain process and BCCDC Vaccine Management resources
- Vaccine must always be stored between +2°C to +8°C either in a monitored fridge or cooler packed according to BCCDC standards
- Record the minimum, maximum and current vaccine fridge temperatures at the start and end of each day using the BCCDC Fridge Temperature Form
- Vaccine stored in a cooler for ≥4 hours must be monitored with a min/max thermometer
- If vaccine is exposed to any temperature outside +2°C to +8°C, immediately:
- Place vaccine in a bag and label ‘QUARANTINE – DO NOT USE’
- Store bag between +2°C to +8°C in a monitored fridge or cooler packed according to BCCDC standards
- Contact local health unit
- Vaccine Eligibility
- Vaccine Products
- Ordering Vaccine
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COVID-19 Vaccine Order Form for Facilities
Start placing vaccine orders the week of April 2, 2024 for distribution the following week.
First Order: request vaccine doses based on the number of long-term care and assisted living residents. Independent living residents and staff over 65 years of age will receive an invite through the Get Vaccinated System to book their vaccine appointment at a community pharmacy or community clinic, or Independent Living residents and staff can be immunized on site. Staff under 65 years of age who have previously received an XBB.1.5 vaccine and wish to receive an additional dose this spring may do so.
Subsequent Orders: place as needed
Begin vaccinating residents as soon as vaccine is available at your facility.
Facilities that contract pharmacists to administer vaccines
Each facility should place their own vaccine order through Public Health. If a pharmacist will be picking up the vaccine on behalf of the facility, indicate the name of the pharmacy on the order form.
Picking up vaccine
Facilities are responsible for picking up the vaccine once contacted by the health unit to confirm order is ready. Bring a hard-sided cooler with frozen ice packs and insulating material (e.g.: flexible insulating blankets or gel packs at refrigerator temperature (+2C to +8C), bubble wrap, crumpled paper or Styrofoam peanuts), when picking up vaccine otherwise vaccine will not be released.
- Documentation & Reporting
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All COVID-19 doses must be recorded in the Provincial Immunization Registry (i.e. ImmsBC).
Receive Access to ImmsBC
Supervisor: complete ImmsBC User Account Request Form using the ImmsBC Request Workflow
ImmsBC User: complete Education for LTC & AL Sites
Support & Questions: email PublicHealthInformatics@islandhealth.caComplete the COVID-19 Clinic Tally for Facilities at the end of each clinic day.
- Consent Forms
- Reporting Adverse Events
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Learn more about Reporting Adverse Events.
- Outbreaks
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- Review your facility’s outbreak protocols and plans
Report Outbreaks within 24 hours
- Amalgamate facilities report to their infection control practitioner
- Affiliate facilities report to Public Health Communicable Disease Program:
- South Island: 1-866-665-6626
- Central Island: 1-866-770-7798
- North Island: 1-877-887-883
Manage Outbreaks
- Implement outbreak policies
Monitor Outbreaks
- Island Health: Active Outbreak List
- BCCDC: COVID-19 Situation Report
- Government of Canada: National Surveillance for COVID-19
- Resources
- Contacts