Port Coquitlam residents wanting to get a vaccine in their own city are out of luck.
They’ll have to travel to Coquitlam or other immunization centres in the Fraser Health region, which have been staffed to handle the extra jabs for neighbourhoods where there is high COVID-19 transmission.
PoCo is one of 16 hot spots in B.C. and residents can get their shots now; however, Fraser Health has no immediate plans to set up a clinic site in Port Coquitlam — even though the city was one of the first to offer a location and is considered a “hot spot” for COVID-19.
Back in March, Port Coquitlam offered Hyde Creek Recreation Centre as a possible vaccination site.
Fraser Health said in a statement it is monitoring need and will add or remove clinics as needed.
“While we do not have additional immunization clinics planned for the Tri-Cities at this time, we continue to monitor volumes at our sites across our region and will flex clinics up or down to meet our communities’ needs,” stated Krystle Landert, a Fraser Health communications consultant, in an email.
PoCo residents can book online at getvacinnatedbc.ca for appointments at Poirier Forum in Coquitlam or an immunization centre in Abbotsford, Burnaby, Chilliwack, Cloverdale, Guildford, Langley or South Surrey.
On Tuesday, Fraser Health announced a drop in clinic at the Poirier Forum in Coquitlam for people 30 and older to obtain an Astra Zeneca shot while the only drop-in clinic for people in high transmission neighbourhoods — such as PoCo — that day was in Surrey.
HOURS LONG LINE-UP FOR DROP-IN ASTRA ZENECA CLINIC IN COQUITLAM
At the Coquitlam drop-in clinic, meanwhile, hundreds of people lined up, many for several hours to get a shot.
The clinic was supposed to be for people in high transmission areas, such as Port Coquitlam, but ineligible people received their shots, according to Adrian Dix, who admitted to media Wednesday there were communication problems and long line ups.
He said 4,000 people had received Astra Zeneca shots at the clinic and another one in Surrey that day.
“We are going to continue to target these communities and that’s one way to do it.”
The province doesn’t have a lot of the AstraZeneca vaccine and hasn’t been informed of more coming, Dix said, so AstraZeneca clinics are unlikely after this week until more of the vaccine arrives.
Meanwhile, those who received their Astra Zeneca dose at a pharmacy will have to register online with getvaccinatedbc.ca for their second dose, starting May 1.
The Tuesday pop up drew a torrent of criticism from people who were upset how the pop up clinic was announced.
People who didn't live in Port Coquitlam were sent emails by their doctors to show up and social media was one of the main ways people were informed about the clinic.
Fraser Health didn't send out a press release until about noon, but by then a line-up had already started.
At least one Coquitlam resident who turned up at the suggestion of his GP decided not to wait and turned around after seeing lineups extending for several blocks.
The traffic chaos that erupted upset some neighbours who called for better traffic management should such a clinic be established in the future.
Still, hope is not over for PoCo residents who may have missed the drop-in clinic that was announced on short notice.
They can still book and Fraser Health is asking them “not to delay” in getting their vaccine.
As well, any School District 43 school-based staff who missed out on getting their jabs during the dedicated April 16 to 19 clinic can register and book their vaccine, according to Fraser Health.
— With files from the Times Colonist
