COVID-19 Vaccine Information for Long-Term Care and Assisted Living Facilities

Information on this page is for staff who work at long-term care or assisted living facilities located within Island Health.

The 2024 COVID-19 Spring Booster Campaign is now complete as of June 30, 2024. It is generally recommended individuals wait until the fall 2024 respiratory illness season to receive their next COVID-19 immunization.

Invitations to book a COVID-19 vaccine through the Get Vaccinated system will resume in fall 2024. Pending Health Canada approval, there may be a new COVID-19 vaccine this fall. If an individual receives a COVID-19 vaccine over the summer, it will result in a delay in receiving a fall 2024 COVID-19 vaccine as there must be a minimum of 3 months between COVID-19 doses. Please contact your local Public Health unit if you have questions. 

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

Vaccine Products

COVID-19 Vaccines

Ordering Vaccine

COVID-19 Vaccine Order Form for Facilities

The 2024 COVID-19 Spring Booster Campaign is now complete as of June 30, 2024. It is generally recommended individuals wait until the fall 2024 respiratory illness season to receive their next COVID-19 immunization.

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

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 PPH.InfoSystems.Support@islandhealth.ca

Complete the COVID-19 Clinic Tally for Facilities at the end of each clinic day.

Consent Forms

• Consent for Vaccine for Adults Assessed as Incapable of Giving Informed Consent 

Reporting Adverse Events

Learn more about Reporting Adverse Events.

Outbreaks

• 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

• COVID-19 Vaccine Toolkit for Health Professionals
• Immunization Communication Tool for COVID-19
• Island Health COVID-19 Resources for Vaccine Providers
• Safety Huddle
• Long-term Care COVID-19 Quick Reference Guide 

Contacts

• Assisted Living & Long-Term Care Services
• Public Health Units
• Medical Health Officers