Drop-ins welcome for first doses of COVID vaccine at North Shore clinics

This story has been amended to correct an error originally posted on VCH's website.

Anyone who has not yet received a first dose of COVID-19 vaccine can now drop in to a clinic on the North Shore to get a shot.

Eligible people aged 12 and older who haven’t received their first dose can either book an appointment or drop in to a clinic anywhere in Vancouver Coastal Health.

Those who don’t have personal health numbers and people who are not residents of B.C. are also welcome at the clinics.

On the North Shore, there are two clinics operating. In North Vancouver, the clinic at the ICBC claim centre on Lloyd Avenue is open daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. In West Vancouver, the clinic at the West Vancouver Community Centre is open daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Other VCH vaccination clinics are listed on the health authority’s website including locations and hours of operation.

Clinic staff are available to help people register and book appointments at other clinics throughout the region if needed.

All residents are encouraged to still register on the provincial system to ensure they receive an alert once they are eligible to book their second dose vaccination appointment. For people who are now eligible for their second dose, appointments at VCH clinics are available through the provincial online platform or call centre.

The opening of drop-ins for first doses comes at a time when vaccination rates appear to be levelling off in B.C.

The District of North Vancouver has one of the top five overall vaccination rates in the province, with 86 per cent of those 12 and over having received one dose. Vaccinations rates for those over 18 are between 79 and 87 per cent on the North Shore, with rates among people 50 and over in the District of North Vancouver at over 90 per cent. Vaccination rates among those 18 to 49 are between 73 and 84 per cent.