Island Health, like health authorities across B.C., is adjusting the operations of COVID-19 mass immunization clinics in communities throughout the region.
As more and more people have been vaccinated, we are ramping down our large clinics to match demand.
The remaining Island Health clinics, combined with the addition of more than 170 community pharmacies registered to administer COVID-19 vaccine to people aged 12 and over, will ensure sufficient capacity moving ahead.
Some Island Health clinics, like University Heights and Archie Browning, will close, while others will reduce days of operation. As the pediatric COVID-19 vaccine is not available in pharmacies, our clinics will focus on vaccinating children age five to 11.
Island Health clinics will also provide appointments for adults seeking non-mRNA vaccines, such as the newly approved Novavax or Medicago, when they are available in B.C.
The updated clinic schedule will take effect on Monday, February 28. Days and hours of operation will continue to be adjusted to reflect local needs.
For full clinic schedule details please visit islandhealth.ca/covid19vaccine or see the attached backgrounder.
Vaccination against COVID-19 remains the most effective way to prevent illness and severe outcomes and we continue to encourage people to get their first, second or booster dose as soon as they are eligible.
COVID-19 vaccination quick facts:
- Anyone 12+ or older, and six months from their Dose 2, is eligible for their booster. Please book your appointment today or call the provincial call centre if you need assistance at 1-833-838-2323.
- Participating pharmacies are registered with the GetVaccinated system so you can make an appointment through the provincial online portal or call centre when you receive an invitation for your booster dose.
- With so many pharmacies available across the region, you can search by how close a pharmacy is to your postal code or by city/town. If you don’t see available appointments at the closest pharmacy, expand the search to within 50km of your postal code.
- Pharmacies will provide either Moderna or Pfizer vaccines for boosters.
- To make an appointment for Novavax or AstraZeneca vaccines please call 1-833-838-2323 to be added to the waitlist.
- COVID-19 vaccinations for children aged five to 11 will continue to be provided at Island Health clinics. Appointments are required.
- While children are at lower risk of severe disease from COVID-19, it can still result in hospitalization or have long-term effects.
- Vaccination will help children and families safely get back to many important activities that positively benefit children’s physical and mental health. The vaccine also reduces the risk of transmission to children’s close contacts who may be at higher risk of severe illness.
- Island Health’s pandemic response team has administered more than 1.9 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine since December 2020.
- To date, 88.7% of people aged 5 and older in Island Health have received two doses of vaccine, and 56.7% of people aged 12 and over also have their booster dose.