Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) on Sunday announced the location of 25 clinics across the health authority where high-risk British Columbians can receive COVID-19 vaccinations this month—including here in Whistler and throughout the Sea to Sky corridor.
Under phase 2 of B.C.'s coronavirus immunization plan, B.C. residents 80 years of age and older, Indigenous peoples 65 years of age and older and Elders will all be eligible for the vaccine beginning Monday, March 15.
But starting today, March 8, all Indigenous people in that age bracket, as well as particular groups of seniors, are invited to book an appointment for their first dose of the vaccine.
In Whistler, Squamish, Pemberton and the Sunshine Coast, that invitation is extended to seniors born in 1941 or earlier, or aged 80 years and older. In Richmond, Vancouver, North Vancouver and West Vancouver, the minimum age for this first round of public vaccines is raised to 90 years, so those born in 1931 or earlier.
In the Sea to Sky corridor, vaccinations will be administered at the following locations and times:
- Whistler Conference Centre (4010 Whistler Way)
- March 19 from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., March 26 from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
- Pemberton Community Centre (7390 Cottonwood St.)
- March 17 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- The 55 Activity Centre (1201 Village Green Way in Squamish)
- March 16 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., March 18 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., March 23 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Vaccinations can be scheduled through VCH 's toll-free appointment booking phone line at 1.877.587.5767, open daily between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. VCH advises that those calling to make an appointment have a pen and paper handy, as well as the individual's personal health number, full name, date of birth, postal code and phone number.
VCH deputy chief medical health officer Dr. Mark Lysyshyn previously told Pique that walk-ins may also be accommodated, but appointments should be booked in advance where possible.
Phase 2 of the province's COVID-19 immunization strategy is expected to last until April. Under this phase, officials expect about 400,000 people who are aged 80 or older, Indigenous peoples, hospital and home support staff or members of a vulnerable population to be vaccinated.
Phase 3 is expected to begin in April, at which time the general population will be made eligible for a vaccine, beginning with people aged 79 to 60. Last week, provincial health officials said all adults in B.C. could be offered the first dose by the end of July.
There will be two vaccines administered in the region, Lysyshyn said: the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, both two-dose messenger ribonucleic acid, or mRNA, vaccines, with each dose likely to be separated by about four months—although that timetable can change.
“As time goes on, we can continue to study what happens during those four months,” Lysyshyn said. “It may be that it’s not necessary to give another dose in four months, or maybe it will be worth it at that point because we’ll have more vaccines. It’s really hard to tell.”
- With files from Brandon Barrett
