March 19 2021

Information About COVID-19 Vaccine from Island Health
CPBC is pleased to share with registrants this updated letter, which includes psychologists, from the Vancouver Island Health Authority which advises eligible registrants who offer direct patient care in acute and community health care settings (including home care) in the Island Health Region, and who meet the other criteria as outlined in the letter, of the process for registration to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. A copy of the letter can be found here:  https://collegeofpsychologists.bc.ca/email/LETTER_to%20community-based%20healthcare%20providers_March%2019[3].pdf

Registrants who have questions, including about their eligibility to participate in this this booking process, are encouraged to contact Island Health by email: CommunityAlliedVac@viha.ca

As described in previous CPBC email blasts regarding the provision of COVID-19 vaccines to health professionals, the Ministry of Health has provided guidance to all regional health authorities for a coordinated approach to making the vaccine available to all health care professionals providing direct patient care in acute and community health care settings (including home care) between now and early April. The guidance from the Ministry of Health to regional health authorities included recommendations for staging distribution of the vaccine to groupings of health care professions.

As per previous CPBC information provided to registrants, the Ministry of Health guidance is intended as advice to regional health authorities, and regional health authorities remain responsible for determining timing of offering the opportunity for vaccination to eligible health professions dependent upon geography, vaccine supply and demand.

As per the College’s commitment to assist the health authorities in communicating with our registrants, this memo from Vancouver Island Health Authority follows those we have provided to registrants from the Fraser Health Authority and the Interior Health Authority. We have also been in touch with the Northern Health Authority and are advised that information about their process will arrive shortly. We have been in touch with the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority and will share information from that health authority as soon as it is available.

As stated in previous email blasts, the College will make every effort to support regional health authorities in providing as much advance notice and information as possible about their intentions for vaccines for essential workers. CPBC will distribute all relevant notices to registrants when requested by health authorities.