Island Health is excited to share information about the 19 community clinics where more than 40,000 eligible residents will receive their first COVID-19 immunization over the next month.
The locations of community clinics spanning island communities from Sooke to Port Hardy are now listed at www.islandhealth.ca/covid19vaccine.
When planning community clinic locations, Island Health focused on key principles including:
- Ease of access - in more urban areas we strived to establish a travel time of approximately no more than 15 minutes;
- Accessible by individuals with mobility challenges, including but not limited to wheelchair and walker access;
- On or close to major transportation routes and bus routes;
- The availability of functional clinic space and space to support appropriate physical distancing.
Island Health is also working closely with Indigenous partners to help support a culturally safe experience for Indigenous people in all clinics. Immunizations will also be offered at Friendship Centres, including in Port Hardy, Victoria and Port Alberni.
As we move into Phase 2 of the B.C. Immunization Plan, Island Health will continue to build on a successful vaccination program that has seen more than 60,000 doses administered in the past several weeks. This included providing protection for our most vulnerable residents in long-term care and assisted living, over 7,000 members of First Nations communities, and 25,000 health care workers.
Tomorrow begins the registration process for B.C.’s first age-based population cohort – Indigenous individuals age 65 and over, along with Elders, and non-indigenous individuals over age 90 – with vaccination appointments starting on March 15.
After this week we will then move to register the 85 and older population, and then the over-80 population. Island Health plans to have all of these populations vaccinated by April 12.
To register for an appointment, eligible individuals or a representative should call 1-833-348-4787 between the hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. seven days a week.
The call centre agent will:
- Confirm you are in the age group eligible for booking;
- Ask you for:
- Your Legal Name
- Your Date of Birth
- Your Postal code
- Your Personal Health Number (if you have one)
- Your phone number (or phone number for family/support member)
- Your Email (or email for a family/support member)
- The agent will then provide you with information of clinics located in the area where you live and together you will choose an appointment time that works for you;
- The call centre agent will confirm your appointment time and location and you will receive a confirmation by text or email if you’ve provided that contact information.
Approximately 30 smaller and remote communities without immunization clinics listed at this time will be vaccinated in a whole of community approach. Depending on the size of the community this may result in the entire adult population of the community having the opportunity to be vaccinated during a single visit to the community (in one day or on consecutive days), or over two visits.
For residents over age 80 who live in these communities, if the whole community approach clinic is not scheduled prior to April 12, Island Health will ensure you have the opportunity to be vaccinated in or close to your community prior to April 12. Please contact the Island Health call centre during the week that you are eligible for your age group.
For some communities, this will occur after April 12, however, Island Health will also visit the community before April 12 to provide vaccine to all interested and eligible individuals.
Island Health has brought on additional staff to help support the volumes of calls we expect to receive beginning tomorrow. Our teams have done a lot of planning and have prepared for a number of contingencies.
We appreciate your patience and your continued kindness, as you have shown health-care teams through the past year. This is the largest immunization rollout any of us has experienced, and it will not be without challenges. We will get through those challenges together, as we move closer to a time when we can be together with our loved ones and friends once again.