For more than five months — between March 15 and Sept. 3, 2021 — local residents had the option of receiving a dose against COVID-19 at Poirier Forum as B.C. continued its primary vaccination roll-out.
And now, it's back with boosters.
Coquitlam's 25,000 sq-ft. covered outdoor facility (618 Poirier St.) is returning to operations as a mass COVID-19 immunization clinic.
This is most likely to relieve some of the busyness from the clinic at the Coquitlam Central SkyTrain Park and Ride overflow lot, which will still be an option for those seeking a vaccine against the virus.
According to a release today (Jan. 11), the city is working in conjunction with Fraser Health to focus on administering booster doses as well as vaccines for children aged five to 11.
"Community support of the BC Immunization Plan is critical to the province’s response to and recovery from COVID-19, and immunity in our community," says Graham Stuart, Coquitlam's EOC public information officer.
The Poirier Forum's normal day-to-day services help sport user groups conduct practices and events, including ball hockey and lacrosse, as well as community collaborations, such as craft markets.
Stuart is grateful for the support of local groups in using the facility to benefit the region's overall health and safety during the pandemic.
"In making the Poirier Forum available to Fraser Health, the City acknowledges the cooperation of the sports user groups and City program participants who have either accommodated alternative arrangements or foregone their usual space allocations."
When the forum closed its vaccine clinic, several pop-up stations were held in the Poirier Admin Building as part of Fraser Health's "hub model" for the fall before the Omicron variant of COVID-19 came into play.
Stuart adds signage is being put in place in and around the Poirier Forum as the indoor space and adjacent parking areas will be used for the clinic.
VACCINATION UPDATE AND INFO
On New Year's Eve (Dec. 31), B.C. announced it would switch its booster program to an interval-based system rather than by age.
This means eligible residents who have waited six months or more for a potential non-mandatory booster dose against the virus are set to receive an invitation, as well as those immuno-compromised.
As of this publication, the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) is reporting a 19 per cent triple-vaccination rate among eligible residents aged 12 years and older in the Tri-Cities — including 35 per cent for those 50 and older.
There's currently a 91 per cent double-vaccination rate among those aged 12 and up in the Tri-Cities, as well as a 93 per cent single-dose rate.
Kids aged five to 11 in the Tri-Cities are averaging nearly 44 per cent for first vaccine doses — the second highest in Fraser Health.
Anyone seeking a vaccine against COVID-19 and wishes to get inoculated at Poirier Forum is encouraged to register via B.C.'s GetVaccinated online portal or call 1-833-838-2323.
You can visit the province's website for more information on its COVID-19 immunization plan.
