Free COVID-19 rapid antigen test kits are available through community pharmacies to people aged 60 and older starting today (March 7).
Those eligible can pick up one kit containing five tests every 28 days from participating pharmacies, according to a media release by the Ministry of Health.
People must present their personal health number when picking up a kit. If picking up for someone else, that person’s name, personal health number and date of birth must be supplied.
The ministry recommends people pick up a test kit when they are asymptomatic to use at a future time when they have symptoms. Guidelines for testing continue to indicate tests should be used for symptomatic individuals.
The Ministry of Health has shipped 3.9 million tests to pharmacy distributors as of March 3. Of these, 1.8 million rapid tests have been shipped to community pharmacies throughout the province and as many as 583,000 rapid tests have been dispensed through the more than 1,000 participating pharmacies, according to the ministry.
B.C. is expecting to receive an additional 9 million tests from the federal government, according to the release.
