The booking of appointments Monday marks the start of a massive rollout to the general population, but information is, so far, limited.
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Health authorities in B.C. are establishing vaccine clinic sites and have been hiring phone agents to begin booking appointments on Monday for the first time for the COVID-19 vaccine.
Up until now, the limited supply of vaccine in the province has been targeted at front-line health care workers, long-term care home residents and staff, and Indigenous people in remote communities.
The booking of appointments Monday marks the start of a massive rollout to the general population, but information is, so far, limited.
The Vancouver Coastal Health Authority has noted on its website a dozen communities where clinics will be set up for the public, including Vancouver, Pemberton and Madeira Park on the Sunshine Coast, but not any specific locations.
Vancouver Island Health and Northern Health officials said last week they were finalizing locations that will be posted on their websites soon.
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Interior Health didn’t respond to questions from Postmedia News, but was expected to release more details about its rollout plan at a press conference Sunday.
Only Fraser Health has posted specific clinic locations in 11 communities on their website through their online booking system, including in Surrey, Langley and Hope. The vaccine clinic sites are at hospitals and existing COVID-19 testing sites.
All five health authorities in B.C. will use a phone-in system, where those aged 90-and-over can begin booking appointments on March 8 for a March 15 start. Indigenous people age 65-and-over will also be able to begin booking appointments.
All health authority websites say that when people book appointments they’ll be given a clinic location.
Vancouver Island Health spokesman Andrew Leyne said they have contracted 35 Telus phone agents to assist 10 to 15 Island Health phone agents to answer booking calls. The agents will take calls 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week, Leyne said in a written response.
Other health authorities didn’t answer questions from Postmedia on how they would ensure they could handle calls, including how many people would be available to answer phones and book appointments.
Vancouver Coastal and Fraser health authorities — which together account for 82 per cent each of COVID-19 cases and deaths in B.C. — didn’t respond to questions from Postmedia or make anyone available for an interview.
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B.C. Ministry of Health officials said Friday that some health authorities had referred questions from Postmedia to them.
“The full list of clinic locations will be posted online in the coming days,” Health Ministry public affairs officer Marielle Tounsi said in a written statement.
The Health Ministry said vaccine booking was being staggered so as not to overwhelm the system, and it was important for people to wait until it’s their turn to call.
In the written response, Tounsi also said mobile clinics will be used to reach people.
In the following two weeks, those 85-and-over and those 80-and-over will also be able to book appointments.
Those aged 80-and-over and Indigenous people 65-and-over not in care homes comprise about 240,000 British Columbians, among 4.3 million people who the province hopes to vaccinate by the end of September.
This first rollout to the public will be a test of the phone booking system and of the clinic locations.
Unlike other jurisdictions, including Alberta and Washington state, only the Fraser Health Authority has set up an option to book an appointment online.
In Alberta, the phone and online systems were initially overwhelmed when launched in late February to book appointments for those 75-and-over. Washington state also experienced early technical problems with their online appointment booking system. The state has up to 1,200 sites where vaccines can be administered, including pharmacies and doctors’ offices.
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B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix is confident the province will be able to handle the ramped-up rollout to the public. He noted last week the health authorities organize immunization clinics every year, for childhood diseases and for influenza, and that already COVID-19 vaccine clinics had been held in more than 1,000 sites.
“There will be a massive number of clinics, but we’re also going to where people need us to deliver this if they can’t come to us,” said Dix.
He said he expects a full list of 172 mass-vaccination clinics to be used starting in April will be announced this week.
Where can I get vaccinated?
Vaccination clinics will be set up in gyms, arenas, convention halls, and community halls. Residents of rural communities may be able to access mobile clinics, which can also provide vaccinations to people who are homebound with mobility challenges.
Click the links to find your closest clinic location:
• Fraser Health immunization clinic locations
• Vancouver Coastal Health immunization clinic locations
• Interior Health immunization clinic locations
• Island Health immunization clinic locations
• Northern Health immunization clinic locations
More on B.C.’s vaccine rollout:
• COVID-19: Here’s how to get your vaccination shot in B.C.
• COVID-19 in B.C.: Can I choose my vaccine? Efficacy, timing explained
Get the latest COVID-19 news delivered to your inbox weeknights at 7 p.m. by subscribing to our newsletter here.
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2021-03-07 19:07:30Z
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