news // no. 4 theotherpress.ca BC coronavirus mass vaccination rollout » Coronavirus vaccine to be distributed by age group Illustration by Athena Little Jerrison Oracion Senior Columnist Wie the development of a vaccine for the coronavirus, many people feel there is a light at the end of the tunnel with this pandemic. But with the shipments of the vaccines being delayed because of factory renovations and more vaccines yet to be approved, getting “back to normal” may be more complicated than originally thought. In the case of British Columbia, the province has a plan based on the current research about the pandemic. On January 22, Premier John Horgan, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry, and the head of the vaccination rollout Dr. Penny Ballem announced how everyone in the province will be able to get the vaccine. The plan is for 4.3 million people to be vaccinated by October. Because the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are the only vaccines that are approved in Canada right now, everyone will need two doses of it. So far, the coronavirus vaccine has not had any reported side effects except those who got allergic reactions from it. Because of the needed double dose, the province will get 8.6-million doses of the vaccine to accommodate everyone who wants it. Henry explains why they decided that they will rollout the vaccine based on recommendations from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization, BC’s Immunization Committee, and the Iconic East Van cinema fed-up with COVID-19 restrictions, and transforms into sports bar > ‘We're going to do the safe thing and be a sports bar’ CJ Sommerfeld Staff Writer I recent days, the billboard accompanying Rio Theatre's sign reads “Screw the arts we're a sports bar now.’ The announcement comes after a month of the independent cinema’s dormancy, following the BC COVID health order introduced in early December which forced closure to all arts venues, including movie theatres. The cinema’s website—which previously sold film passes, now lists reservation seating “tickets.” Although not actual tickets, this cost-free reservation provides the cinema with an idea of how many people to expect, and simultaneously turn away. This new reservation system fulfills the new COVID health order for businesses operating at reduced capacity. Sports have replaced the cult classics which used to be projected on the big screen. But no need to fret movie lovers! This sudden change in entertainment is just for the time being to keep the venue’s doors open, since sports bars have not been ordered to close like arts venues have. In an interview with CTV News, owner Corinne Lea expresses her annoyance: “It’s frustrating for us because it shouldn't make a difference what's on the screen. If you can watch sports, you should be able to watch movies.” The sports bar stunt comes after a series of billboards addressed to BC’s top health physicians and their latest health orders. Pictures of the billboards can be archived on the theatre’s Twitter. Such read, “arts & culture closed while bars are still open fvck that noise,” “cinemas can operate safely just like bars & restaurants Dr B Henry can you hear us?” and “treat cinemas fairly bars & restaurants open why not theatres?” Over the last two months, the theatre seems to have done what they can to try to reopen their doors. Mid-January, the Rio Theatre started a petition, also addressed to BC Health Officials in an attempt to allow cinemas to reopen. As of January 28, there are currently more than 8,000 signatures, but no plans to allow reopening. The Rio Theatre obtains a liquor primary licence, which allows them to operate by selling alcohol. Cinemas who do not hold a liquor primary licence are unable to open their doors solely to sell alcohol and function as a bar. Although previously people had been drawn into the theatre to watch films and other performances, the cinema had to adopt another business strategy. Public Health Leadership Committee. Like the province’s Restart Plan for the coronavirus pandemic, the vaccination distribution will be in four phases. Currently, we are in “phase one” where the elderly in long term care homes and hospital workers as well as residents in remote and indigenous places will get it first. In the next phase which begins this month, the rest of the elderly population will receive the vaccine. As Ballem explains the phases in the rollout, she gave more information about how the rest of the population will be able to get the vaccine. The coronavirus vaccine will be given in five-year age gaps beginning at 79 years old until 18 years old and each person will get each dose in two months. When it is an age group's turn to get the vaccine, they can pre-register to book an appointment to get immunized a month before they receive it. They will get a record of the vaccination both in paper and digital form to keep track how many doses they got. AstraZeneca and Johnson and Johnson vaccines (which only require one dose) may also be approved soon making for a more efficient vaccination plan. The vaccine is 95 percent effective at preventing COVID-19 symptomatic illness, though it is unclear whether it prevents the spread of the virus altogether. While many wait to get the coronavirus vaccine, people are still asked to wear a mask and practice social distancing. ORTS BAR NOW OPENING SATURDAY __ JANUARY _23___Et Another independent cinema holding this sort of licence, Hollywood Theatre, made a similar transition late last year. The venue was dormant for many years after opening in 1935. They reopened in 2020 only to be faced with the pandemic. While the theatre originally showed live music and film, they too had to make some quick adjustments that veered outside how they usually functioned. For the time being, they too are now servicing as a bar. Immediately succeeding the Rio's re- opening as a sports bar, a local publication Photo by Arnaldo Fragozo | proposed that the $375,000 arts grant which had been given to the theatre in 2018 was in jeopardy as they were no longer servicing as an arts venue. After receiving much backlash, the article was subsequently taken down, updated, and republished. The Rio’s Rachel Fox clarifies with the Daily Hive that they do not want to bea sports bar, they want to be a cinema. They are just doing what they can to stay afloat during these unprecedented times: “We are fighting for the survival of the arts. That’s why we're doing this.”