COVID-19 and Influenza Vaccine Information for Community Vaccine Providers

Information on this page is for Community Vaccine Providers (CVPs) within Island Health, excluding community pharmacists. Community pharmacists access information through the BC Pharmacy Association.

• Immunization Information for Healthcare Professionals
• Immunizations Courses for Health Professionals

COVID-19 & Influenza vaccines will be easily accessible this season with appointment availability through public health and community pharmacies. Starting in early October, invitations to book an appointment will be sent through the Get Vaccinated system.

Non-B.C. Residents: Community pharmacists are only able to immunize B.C. residents (those with a Personal Health Number). Non-B.C. residents can call 1-833-838-2323 to book an appointment with public health.

Vaccine Management

• 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

• COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility
• Influenza Vaccine Eligibility
  • Intended Use of Influenza Vaccines 

Vaccine Products

COVID-19 Vaccines

• COVID-19 mRNA Vaccines - Omicron LP.8.1 variant
  • SPIKEVAX (Moderna)
  • COMIRNATY (Pfizer)

Influenza Vaccines

• Trivalent Inactivated Influenza Vaccines
  • Inactivated influenza vaccine is made from inactivated influenza viruses and is administered as an injection (shot).
    • FLUVIRAL
    • FLUZONE
    • FLUAD
• Live Attenuated Influenza (flu) Vaccine
  • Live attenuated influenza vaccine is made from weakened influenza viruses and is administered as an intranasal spray into both nostrils.
    • FLUMIST 
       

Ordering Vaccine

COVID-19 & Influenza Vaccine Order Form for Community Vaccine Providers
COVID-19 & Influenza Vaccine Order Form for Community Health Services

Start placing vaccine orders the week of October 1, 2025. Health Unit staff will contact you when order is ready for pick-up. Please allow 5 business days.

• First Order: only request anticipated vaccine doses needed for the first two weeks.
• Subsequent Orders: place as needed taking into account the shorter vaccine expiry date for COVID-19 vaccine. When submitting a subsequent order, doses on hand must be recorded on the vaccine order form. Forms with incomplete information, including doses on hand, will result in a delay in orders being filled as public health will need to follow-up to request missing information. Allow at least 5 working days (Monday to Friday) to fill your order.

Influenza Vaccine Distribution Plan

• Public health receives regular shipments of influenza vaccine from BCCDC starting in late September. These shipments arrive with an initial shipment for all providers followed by smaller allotments in subsequent weeks. Community vaccine providers can expect their flu vaccine to be allocated and distributed in the same way.
• Vaccine will be distributed to providers based on vaccine supply and the number of vaccine doses administered/wasted by each provider in previous influenza seasons.
• If planning a large flu clinic, include the details on the vaccine order form including the clinic date and expected doses needed. Do not plan large clinics prior to mid-late October.
• Influenza vaccine will be distributed based on available supply.
• If no vaccine product (or substitute) is available, you will be notified by the local health unit. 

Picking up vaccine:

All vaccine providers 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 (+2˚C to +8˚C), bubble wrap, crumpled paper or Styrofoam peanuts) when picking up vaccine otherwise vaccine will not be released.

Documentation & Reporting

All Community Vaccine Providers (including Primary Care)

COVID-19: All doses must be recorded in the provincial immunization registry (i.e., ImmsBC or eForm)

Primary Care Providers follow the steps below to order and document COVID-19 vaccines:

1. Order COVID-19 vaccines using the appropriate order form.
2. Most offices already have a Service Delivery Location (SDL), which is required to enable vaccine entry in eForms. We will review the order form and submit a request to the Provincial Team for a new SDL, if necessary. Please allow approximately five business days for the SDL to be created.
3. Public Health Information Systems Team will send the Primary Care Providers (PCP) eForm Onboarding Process and Immunization eForm Guide to Primary Care Providers to you by email.
4. Follow the instructions in the email to complete the eForm education. If you require support with eForm access, contact eformsenrolment@phsa.ca.
5. If a new SDL is required, the Public Health Information Systems Team will notify you by email once it's created. You may begin documenting influenza and COVID-19 vaccines in eForms after the SDL is active and education is complete.

Note: The local health unit will contact you when your COVID-19 vaccine order is ready to be picked up. Providers can administer COVID-19 vaccines before they have eForm access, but all doses must be back entered in eForms

Acute Care 

• All doses of COVID-19 must be reported to public health using the Imms Vaccine Recording Form for Acute Care.

Community Health Services

• All COVID-19 doses must be recorded in the provincial immunization registry (i.e. ImmsBC)
• At the end of each clinic day, complete the Online Clinic Tally.

For Access to ImmsBC - Island Health Staff:

• Supervisor:
  • Complete ImmsBC User Account Request Form
  • Submit User Account Request Form through PPH Information Systems Service Now Request Form
    • What application? Select ‘Not in the list’
    • What’s is the application’s name? type ‘ImmsBC’
    • Attach the completed ImmsBC User Account Request Form and select Order Now.
• ImmsBC User:
  • Complete education as outlined in Orientation for LTC and CHS Provider
  • Reference Resource – Guidance for LTC and CHS
• Support & Questions: Email PPH.InfoSystems.Support@islandhealth.ca

Reporting Adverse Events

Reporting Adverse Events

COVID-19 & Influenza Activity

• Island Health: Active Outbreak List
• BCCDC: Respiratory Virus Data
• Government of Canada: FluWatch
• Government of Canada: National Surveillance for COVID-19
• WHO: Flu Surveillance 

Resources

• Influenza Vaccines: Canadian Immunization Guide
• Summary of NACI statement of April 30, 2025: statement on seasonal influenza vaccines for 2025-2026
• COVID-19 Vaccine Toolkit for Health Professionals
• Immunization Communication Tool for COVID-19
• HealthLink BC: Influenza
• Island Health Influenza Prevention Policy

Contacts

• Public Health Units
• Medical Health Officers