Sunshine Coast seniors over the age of 70 who haven’t had their COVID-19 shot yet have a chance to get in line without registering in advance, while booking has officially opened for those aged 65 and older.
On April 8 and 9, residents aged 70 years or older can attend a drop-in clinic to receive a vaccination if they don’t already have an appointment booked, said Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) in a release on April 7.
“The eligible age group in Coastal rural captured a wider senior population than the Lower Mainland which enabled VCH to vaccine at-risk seniors in smaller, rural communities more efficiently,” said VCH in a release.
As of yesterday, about 75 per cent of the coastal rural senior population has received vaccine.
The drop-in clinic is located at the Sechelt Seniors Activity Centre on 5604 Trail Ave. in Sechelt:
• April 8 from 9:30 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
• April 9 from 9:30 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
People should bring their personal health number and identification. Bookings do not need to be made in advance.
The move to drop-in clinics created some confusion, however, as those over the age of 70 reported being unable to book appointments through the new online booking system or by phone.
VCH said it will be opening additional appointments on the Sunshine Coast and other coastal rural communities starting the week of April 25.
However, on April 8, the health authority announced people in the next age group, those aged 65 and older, are able to register for a vaccine appointment both online, by phone or in person at a Service BC office. On April 9, VCH released two dates for vaccination clinics at the Sechelt Seniors Activity Centre – April 15 and April 27.
Anyone who is Indigenous and at least 18 years old is also eligible to book an appointment.
Register for vaccine booking online at: http://www.getvaccinated.gov.bc.ca/
Booking by phone can be done by phoning the call centre, open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week: 1-833-838-2323.
More information about drop-in vaccine clinics can be found at: http://www.vch.ca/covid-19/covid-19-vaccine/coastal-rural-vaccination-clinics
