Island Health and our partners are celebrating a historic milestone, as more than 100,000 residents in our region have now received a first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
The 100,000 first dose milestone was reached on March 26, meaning approximately 13 per cent of the population within Island Health’s region is now immunized against COVID-19.
“This has been the largest and most complex immunization effort in the history of our province,” said Dr. Richard Stanwick, Island Health’s Chief Medical Health Officer. “I am so proud of the unprecedented work undertaken by our teams and partners, and I’m optimistic for what this milestone represents in our collective fight against COVID-19.”
Island Health began administering the COVID-19 vaccine to health care workers at a single clinic in Greater Victoria on December 22, 2020. Over the weeks and months since, the vaccination program expanded to include health care worker clinics in communities throughout the region, as well as directly in places like long-term care homes and assisted living sites. Moving into Phase 2 of the Province’s COVID-19 Immunization Plan, Indigenous peoples age 65 and older and non-Indigenous people age 90 and over began receiving vaccine in community clinics on March 15, 2021.
Included in the 100,000 first doses is more than 11,500 doses administered to people in approximately 50 First Nations communities. This work was undertaken as a partnership between the Nations, First Nations Health Authority, and Island Health.
“As has been reported, First Nations communities across Vancouver Island and beyond have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19, highlighting the importance of providing protection through immunization,” said Dr. Shannon McDonald, First Nations Health Authority acting Chief Medical Officer. “We are so thankful to the First Nations communities who have and continue to play a critical role in this vaccination effort. This milestone would not have been achieved without your efforts.”
As we move into Phases 3 and 4 of the Province’s COVID-19 Immunization Plan, everyone who is eligible will be able to receive a first dose before July 1, 2021. Island Health will also begin administering second doses to people roughly 16 weeks after they received their first dose. People will be contacted when it is time to schedule their second dose.
Highlights of Island Health’s COVID-19 vaccination program
Island Health began administering the COVID-19 vaccine to health care workers at a single clinic in Greater Victoria on December 22, 2020. Over the weeks and months since, the vaccination program expanded to include health care worker clinics in communities throughout the region, as well as directly in places like long-term care homes and assisted living sites. Moving into Phase 2 of the Province’s COVID-19 Immunization Plan, Indigenous peoples age 65 and older and non-Indigenous people age 90 and over began receiving vaccine in community clinics on March 15, 2021.
Highlights include:
- More than 8,500 residents and over 11,000 staff of long-term care and assisted living received a first dose. A unique clinic was held at each of the 115 long-term care and assisted living residences throughout Island Health.
- In collaboration with First Nations and First Nations Health Authority, more than 11,500 people in approximately 50 First Nations communities received a first dose. This includes rural and remote as well as urban First Nations communities.
- More than 4,700 doses for residents and staff at 60 independent living facilities across Island Health received a first dose over a 10-day period, thanks to a dedicated team of planners, pharmacists, drivers, and public health nurses.
- Between March 8, 2021 and March 25, Island Health’s COVID-19 vaccine call centre booked more than 91,000 appointments for eligible people to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.
- Completed clinics in rural and remote locations for individuals 80+ and Indigenous peoples 65+, through Island Health’s Whole Community Approach in communities including:
- Tofino
- Ucluelet
- Port Alice
- Port McNeill
- Port Hardy
- Sointula
- Gabriola Island
- Denman Island
- Hornby Island
- Quadra Island
- Completed clinics in rural and remote locations for all individuals 18+ through Island Health’s Whole Community Approach in communities including:
- Woss
- Kyuquot
- Port Renfrew
- Sayward
- Zeballos
- Provided more than 4,000 doses in people’s homes for people receiving home care or those with mobility challenges.
- Immunized more than 1,600 essential visitors in long-term care and assisted living.
- Administered more than 27,000 first doses to health care workers prioritized in Phases 1 and 2 of the Province’s COVID-19 Immunization Plan.
- Beginning March 15, 2021, through community clinics across the Island Health region, administered more than 15,000 doses to community members aged 80 and older.
- The team that helped us get to 100,000 includes an estimated 200 public health nurses, more than 450 nurses replied to our expressions of interest, over 75 nurses from community health services, as well as 250 volunteers.
- We have also welcomed physicians, nurse practitioners and midwives as we continue to grow our team of immunizers.