---
title: "BC NDP promises free shingles vaccines and 500 more home care workers for seniors"
description: "David Eby announced an NDP seniors health care plan on October 5 that includes free shingles vaccines for adults 50 and over, 500 new home care workers, and seven paused long-term care projects moving forward."
canonical_url: "https://voche.me/bc/provincial-2026/news/bc-ndp-seniors-health-care-plan-october-2026"
last_updated: "2026-10-10T04:06:57.005Z"
---

The BC NDP says a re-elected government would give free shingles vaccines to all adults 50 and over and add 500 home care workers to help 5,600 more seniors stay in their homes longer. The party published its seniors health care platform on October 5, 2026, with the announcement made by BC NDP leader [David Eby](/bc/provincial-2026/candidates/david-eby).

## Five promises in the plan

The BC NDP release lists five items. First, the party says it would cover the full cost of the two-dose shingles vaccine for all adults aged 50 and over and all immunocompromised adults. Second, it says adding 500 home care workers, scrapping user fees, and expanding virtual home monitoring would help 5,600 more seniors stay in their homes longer. Third, it promises to bring more nurse practitioners, pharmacy services, and virtual specialist consultations into long-term care homes to reduce hospital trips.

Fourth, the party says it would resume seven long-term care projects paused earlier in 2026, using a new construction model the party says would lower per-bed costs and shorten timelines. The release says these seven are separate from 16 projects already completed, seven under construction, and 15 in planning. Fifth, the party says it would bring 5,000 care-home workers into the public health employer system to provide stable staffing and fair pay.

## Attribution

All five items and all figures in this brief come from the BC NDP's own release. The party has not published a cost breakdown. The party also acknowledged in the release that the seven paused projects were paused under the current NDP government earlier in 2026.

These are campaign promises. The BC NDP would need to win the election on October 24 and then pass legislation and new budgets to carry them out. You can compare what each party has promised for seniors care at [BC provincial parties](/bc/provincial-2026/parties). Advance voting opens October 16.

## Sitemap

See the full [sitemap](/bc/provincial-2026/sitemap.md) for all pages.