As part of the province's Vax for B.C. initiative unveiled this week, Port Moody is set to host another impromptu COVID-19 vaccine clinic in less than two weeks.
Fraser Health will be set up at White Pine Beach between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. today (July 28) in an effort to reach out to eligible residents 12 years and older who still haven't received their first dose.
If you've received a first dose and it's been more than seven weeks since, the province says you can drop-in for your second dose.
No personal health number or appointment is required.
White Pine Beach is located west of Sasmat Lake in Belcarra Regional Park.
In Coquitlam, a similar "special event clinic" has been scheduled for Aug. 6 at the Cineplex theatres from 3 to 7 p.m., located at 170 Schoolhouse St.
Meanwhile, the Poirier Forum's drop-in vaccine clinic remains open daily from 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. for eligible residents looking for a first vaccine dose.
It'll also now be open for anyone looking to get a second jab and it's been at least 49 days since their first.
However, the vaccine clinic at the Coquitlam Central Station Park and Ride overflow lot is not listed under the Vax for B.C. plan and will continue to inoculate first doses only daily between 10 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.
WHAT IS VAX FOR B.C.?
The above pop-up clinics are part of a program that is likely to be one of the province's boldest shifts yet in its COVID-19 vaccination campaign in a bid to reach those who are still without a single dose.
Mass vaccination clinics are giving way to smaller outreach clinics, mobile vaccination vans and pop-up clinics at popular spots such as Playland and farmers’ markets, among other locations as part of the Vax for B.C. campaign.
The new initiative unveiled on Tuesday (July 27) will see the province rallying as many people as possible to get vaccinated at large clinics over the next two weeks before shifting to the new locations in early to mid-August.
By late August and into September, the province will be drawing a bead on young people returning to classes at post-secondary institutes.
Health officials will be holding a “Walk-in Wednesday” on Aug. 4, just after the B.C. Day long weekend, whereby 20,000 shots will be available across the province at all clinics without any need for an appointment to get vaccinated.
“Vax for B.C. is really about that last push to make for the next few weeks to make sure that we’re capturing everybody that needs to participate in our vaccination program,” Penny Ballem, executive lead for B.C.’s immunization plan, said during a Tuesday briefing.
“We want to reach these people. They’re across the province.”
More than 900,000 British Columbians — or about 19% of the eligible population — remain unvaccinated.
The last time the Tri-Cities hosted a pop-up clinic was on July 17 at Rocky Point Park in Port Moody, where Fraser Health workers had hoped to administer 300 doses in a six-hour period.
First jabs were of the higher priority, but residents seeking a second dose were put on a waiting list to potentially receive an invitation to come back if there were enough vaccines near the end of the day.
- with files from Tyler Orton, Business In Vancouver
