Bowen Island will have its own vaccine clinic.
Where on Bowen the clinic will be is not yet clear. For those eligible to get vaccinations in March, the specific appointment location will be confirmed when one books an appointment, said Vancouver Coastal Health Tuesday. The public list of mass clinic locations – to start in April – has yet to be released.
Bowen Islanders are advised to follow the appointment booking schedule associated with coastal communities, including the Sunshine Coast and Squamish, on the VCH website.
This means that starting March 8, Bowen Islanders born in 1941 or earlier, or who are Indigenous and born in 1956 or earlier, will be eligible to book a vaccine appointment by calling VCH’s toll-free appointment booking phone line at 1-877-587-5767. (Note: yes, this is different from the province's guidance asking younger octogenarians to wait to call).
The date of that appointment will depend on age – those 90 and over will be vaccinated starting March 15. Those 85 and older will start vaccinations by March 22 and those 80 and over will start vaccinations by March 29.
One will need their legal name, date of birth, postal code, personal health number and current contact information to book the appointment. Family members may also book on behalf of seniors.
Most clinics will be open every day between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. with evening appointments also available. For Indigenous people, there’s also the option of using dedicated vaccination sites, “which will offer services that are culturally safe, with ceremonial plans in place,” said VCH.
If one does not have access to transportation, they are to mention it at the time of booking and will be called back by the home immunization team, said VCH.
-With files from Tyler Orton, Business in Vancouver
Correction: An earlier version of this story stated that Bowen Islanders can start calling for appointments Feb. 8. Naturally, it's March 8 they can start calling.
