Saturday June 19, 2021 | VANCOUVER ISLAND, BC
by Mary P Brooke, B.Sc., Editor | Island Social Trends
Now there is no appointment required for adults to get their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine at an Island Health mass immunization clinic. That’s for anyone age 18+.
- The availability of first-dose walk-in appointments is dependent on the daily vaccine supply available at each clinic.
- People in need of a second dose must book an appointment through the provincial Get Vaccinated booking system.
- Meanwhile, to ensure that you do get a vaccination appointment, Island Health says to register and book your appointment through the provincial Get Vaccinated system.
Appointments for youth:
Youth age 12-17 can book an appointment for first-dose immunization or accompany a sibling or adult to that person’s scheduled appointment.
Supply has increased:
With vaccine supply increasing (as announced on June 17 by Provincial Health Officer Dr Bonnie Henry), Island Health is able to provide a limited number of walk-in appointments each day at mass immunization clinics, and expand the number of appointments available for booking across Vancouver Island.
B.C.’s mass immunization clinics have been designed for operational capacity of approximately 450,000 doses per week. At present, the clinics are currently administering around 325,000 weekly, based on vaccine supply, says the BC Ministry of Health.
At a provincial level, public health is closely managing the vaccine supply received from the federal government to make sure bookings are not disrupted, the Ministry says.
Changes in supply:
On Thursday Dr Henry outlined that in the first two weeks of July there will be more Moderna product coming into BC but less Pfizer-BioNTech product.
“Pfizer requires additional preparation time to inject the diluent in the vaccine vial, but this is minimal and does not slow down vaccine delivery,” the Ministry of Health told Island Social Trends yesterday, adding: “Vaccination sites are adequately staffed and are running efficiently.”
Vaccinations administered to date (June 18, 2021):
So far in Island Health there have been 706,092 COVID-19 vaccinations administered, of which 121,355 (about 17%) were second doses.
Most of the administered doses have been Pfizer (535,890 or 75.9%), with Moderna being the second-most administered (141,016 or 20%), and then AstraZeneca (29,186 or 4.1%).
Across BC, 76.7% of adults (18+) have received their first dose, and 19% their second dose. Of all vaccine-eligible British Columbians (age 12+), 75.1% have received a first dose.
Vaccination is not complete until two doses are received. For people who are seriously immuno-compromised, even a third dose might be required, said Dr Henry this past week.
Premier opts for two of the same:
As of yesterday, BC Premier John Horgan has received two doses of AstraZeneca, saying ‘the best vaccine shot is the one that is offered to you’.
Dr Henry said recently that it’s okay to “mix and match” vaccines, but that “standard immunization fundamentals” recommend two shots of the same type.
===== LINKS: (provided by Island Health)
- For more information about Island Health clinic locations and hours: www.IslandHealth.ca
- To register or book a vaccination appointment please go to www.getvaccinated.gov.bc.ca.
- For answers to common questions about the COVID-19 vaccines go to www.immunizebc.ca