Evening walk-in clinics offer first doses of vaccine in North Van

Haven’t got around to getting a first dose of vaccine yet?

Now’s the time to do it.

Starting Tuesday, June 22 and continuing through Thursday this week, Vancouver Coastal Health is making evening drop-in appointments available for first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine at its North Vancouver clinic on Lloyd Avenue.

The pop-up drop-in clinic will have 50 first doses of vaccine available for walk-ins on those days between 7 and 10 p.m.

The evening pop-up clinics this week are aimed at reaching that last 20 to 25 per cent of people who still haven’t received a first dose of vaccine on the North Shore.

"It may be because of their work schedules or language barriers,” said Bob Chapman, interim vice-president of Vancouver Community for Vancouver Coastal Health.

People over 70 - many of whom received a first dose of vaccine before the provincial registration system was up and running - can also drop in at those times to receive a second dose of vaccine.

While vaccine clinics have been running at the North Vancouver ICBC test centre site and the West Vancouver Community Centre for several months, appointments are being booked for most people two to four weeks out. There have also not been any clinic appointments available in the evenings on the North Shore, making it hard for some people to access.

Based on response to the first walk-in clinics, more drop-in spots and locations may be added in the future, said Chapman.

Similar drop-in clinics are also being run over the next week in Vancouver, Richmond and Whistler.

Overall, North Vancouver has one of the highest vaccination rates in the province, with 84 per cent of those 12 and over in the District of North Vancouver having received at least one dose. Vaccination rates are between 77 and 88 per cent on the North Shore among people over 50 and older and at 90 per cent for that age group in parts of North Vancouver.

The upper part of West Vancouver, including the British Properties and Caulfeild, has the lowest vaccination rate on the North Shore at about 76 per cent for people 12 and older.

Those in older age groups have higher vaccination rates than those in younger ages, partly because they have been eligible to book appointments for much longer. But the clinics are aimed at boosting vaccination rates in all age groups, said Chapman.

For people who are now eligible for second doses, appointments at all other clinics are available through the provincial online platform or call centre after residents register for a COVID-19 vaccine at www.gov.bc.ca/getvaccinated. 

For people living in Metro Vancouver with transportation or mobility challenges, VCH is also working with community groups, and transportation providers to offer help getting to and from a COVID-19 vaccination clinic. To request transportation support, visit: http://www.vch.ca/vaccinationtransportation. 

Requests for transportation support must be made at least three days in advance of a vaccination appointment.