BC NDP promises free shingles vaccines and 500 more home care workers for seniors

On October 5, 2026, BC NDP leader David Eby announced a seniors health care platform. According to the BC NDP's own release, the plan includes five items: free shingles vaccines for all adults 50 and over and immunocompromised adults; adding 500 home care workers to support 5,600 more seniors to stay in their homes; better care for long-term care residents through more nurse practitioners and virtual specialist consultations; resuming seven long-term care projects that were paused earlier in 2026; and bringing 5,000 care-home workers into the public health employer system.

The BC NDP's October 5, 2026 release says the party would cover the full cost of the two-dose shingles vaccine for all adults aged 50 and over and all immunocompromised adults. The party says this would prevent unnecessary hospital visits and help people live healthier lives. Shingles is a painful nerve condition caused by the same virus as chickenpox. The shingles vaccine is currently available in B.C. but patients generally pay for it themselves. The cost of covering it for all eligible adults was not included in the party's release.

The BC NDP's October 5, 2026 release says the plan to add 500 home care workers, scrap user fees, and expand virtual long-term care monitoring would together help 5,600 more seniors stay safely in their homes longer. This figure comes from the party's own release and has not been independently verified. Adding 500 home care workers and scrapping user fees are the stated means; 5,600 is the party's projection of how many more people would benefit.

The BC NDP's release says Eby would move ahead with seven long-term care projects that had been paused earlier in 2026. The party says these seven projects are in addition to 16 already completed, seven under construction, and 15 more in planning. The release does not name the seven paused projects or give their locations. It says a new construction model would lower per-bed costs and shorten timelines. The party attributes the earlier pause to its own budget decisions made before the election was called.

The BC NDP's October 5, 2026 release says the party would bring 5,000 care-home workers back into the public health employer system. The party says this would ensure stable staffing, better continuity of care, and fair pay for those workers. This is the party's own description of the policy. The release does not explain where those 5,000 workers are currently employed or what the transition would involve.

Voche.me has not verified specific Conservative Party of BC promises on seniors long-term care or home care as of October 7, 2026. The Conservative Party released an emergency room plan on October 5 that includes adding nurse practitioners and expanding virtual consultations into long-term care homes. You can compare what each party has promised at /bc/provincial-2026/parties.

No. This is a campaign promise made on October 5, 2026, nineteen days before the provincial election on October 24. The BC NDP has been in government since 2017. The release acknowledges that seven long-term care projects were paused earlier in 2026 under the current NDP government. A re-elected NDP government would need to pass budgets and legislation to deliver these commitments.

Voting day is Saturday, October 24, 2026. Advance voting runs from October 16 to October 21, 2026. You can find your voting place, check whether you are registered, and get information on voting by mail at /bc/provincial-2026/where-to-vote. If you are not yet registered, you can register in advance or at your voting place on election day.