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The COVID-19 AstraZeneca/COVISHIELD vaccine will be available to people aged 55-65 living in the Lower Mainland thanks to a partnership between Immunize BC and community pharmacists.

Under the provincial vaccine rollout, citizens in that age category will not be able to join the vaccination queue until May and June, using the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines. 

Those vaccines need special cold storage, and can therefore only be dispensed at clinics set up to properly store and administer the vaccines.

But if you are between the ages of 55 and 65, you will be able to book your appointment as of March 31, using the AstraZeneca/COVISHIELD vaccine.

Of the initial pharmacies that will be part of the pharmacy vaccine rollout, some locations may allow for drop-in service. You will be required to bring your Personal Health Number, located on your CareCard or BC Services Card.

The initial selection of pharmacies will be updated regularly and more pharmacies will added in the coming weeks.

Pharmacies offering the COVID-19 vaccine in the City of Vancouver.

London Drugs 'inundated' by vaccine booking calls, asks B.C. residents not to phone pharmacies

London Drugs Ltd. is urging British Columbians not to phone the chain’s pharmacies to book COVID-19 vaccine appointments after being “inundated” by calls over the past day.

London Drugs tweeted on Tuesday — the day before bookings were due to begin — that “due to an overwhelming response, all available vaccine appointments have been booked. We ask that customers refrain from calling our pharmacies directly to allow for the pharmacies to prepare for the vaccination process of the fully booked appointments.”

Instead, the Richmond-based company said that if additional vaccinations become available, it will let customers know where to book online.

With files from Nelson Bennett and Tyler Orton.