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Posted On: October 10, 2025
Fall is underway, and with it comes respiratory virus season. Immunization remains an important tool to reduce the impact of influenza and COVID-19 on our health-care facilities and to protect those we care for and ourselves.
British Columbia’s provincial immunization program – the Get Vaccinated system – uses partner organizations, providing multiple opportunities for individuals to receive their influenza and COVID-19 vaccines. The continued growth of this program has resulted in a significant increase in community-based vaccine availability. This has reduced the need for Island Health to rely on in-house programs to support this important annual campaign, allowing us to shift our resources to supporting other important work.
In addition to providing immunization services through their own community-based locations, Heart Pharmacy will also host immunization clinics at select Island Health sites based on the number of people accessing clinics and proximity to the pharmacy.
With the year-over-year enhancements in community-based options for immunization, Island Health will not be providing a peer immunizer program this year.
Island Health staff, medical staff, volunteers and students have two options to receive their vaccines:
1. Get Vaccinated System
The Get Vaccinated system allows individuals to book a time and place to receive their influenza and COVID-19 shots. These vaccines are free for all BC residents aged six months and older. If you are registered in the Get Vaccinated system, you will receive an email or SMS text message when it’s time to book a new appointment. If you are unregistered or need to confirm registration, you can do so at https://www.getvaccinated.gov.bc.ca/s/.
2. Site Vaccination Clinics
Heart Pharmacy will be offering independent pop-up clinics at select sites, which will include both drop-in and appointment options. The campaign is scheduled to run from October 14 to November 7.
Site clinics are open to all Island Health staff, medical staff, volunteers and students – irrespective of whether or not they work at the site. Please bring your Island Health ID badge and provincial health-care card. You can find a copy of the clinic schedule on the Staff Influenza and COVID-19 Vaccination page.
Declare Your Vaccination Status
All Island Health staff and medical staff are required to declare their vaccination status:
Health-care workers are encouraged, but not required, to be immunized for influenza and COVID-19.
Questions?
It is recommended that you receive both of your vaccines at the same time.
If you have further questions regarding influenza/COVID-19 vaccines and your immunization options, please access the Staff Influenza and COVID-19 Vaccination page, visit Immunize BC, reach out to your leader, or contact the Employee Health Advisor team in Health, Wellness, Safety & Ability Management at EHN-OHS@IslandHealth.ca .