Vax for BC launches to get more people vaccinated

From June 15 to July 15, 78% of people hospitalized in B.C. with COVID-19 were unvaccinated

WORKING with health authorities throughout British Columbia, the Province announced on Tuesday that it is making it easier than ever for people to get vaccinated with the launch of Vax for BC, the next step in the Province’s campaign to help as many eligible people as possible get vaccinated.

“With more than 80% of eligible people in B.C. vaccinated with their first dose and more than 60% fully vaccinated, we have made tremendous progress in our vaccine rollout,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health. “The next few weeks is a great opportunity for everyone not yet fully vaccinated to take advantage of the number of Vax for BC opportunities throughout B.C.”

Beginning today (Tuesday, July 27), and lasting throughout the month of August, community events, vax vans and mobile clinics will be up and running in dozens of communities in B.C. to get more people vaccinated with their first and second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. While registration and booking using the provincial Get Vaccinated system is still encouraged, these events will allow eligible people to walk-in and receive a vaccine without a scheduled appointment.

In addition to drop-in events, Vax for BC will kick off an opportunity to recognize how far British Columbia has come together, providing a chance for people to share messages and notes of gratitude to pandemic heroes over the last 18 months. British Columbians are encouraged to share written messages online, in their windows at home and in-person at vaccination locations.

“The rollout of mass COVID-19 vaccinations for B.C. has been the effort of a lifetime, and this accomplishment is shared by every health-care worker who has helped us stay safe, every front-line worker who has kept our communities going and every person in B.C. who has chosen to be vaccinated – I am thankful to each and every one of you,” said Dr. Bonnie Henry, Provincial Health Officer. “For those who have not yet been vaccinated, it is easier than ever to get your first or second dose. Join the millions of people in our province who have taken this step, not just for themselves, but for their larger community.”

Along with regional events held by health authorities, Vax for BC will also include the first provincewide Walk-in Wednesday. On August 4, clinics throughout the province will reserve approximately 20,000 doses for walk-in vaccinations for anyone 12 years and older still needing their first dose or people eligible to receive their second dose.

As more British Columbians step up and get vaccinated through Vax for BC, the Province said it will gradually refocus its vaccine efforts from mass clinics onto programs targeting the hardest to reach people. In the weeks ahead, B.C.’s vaccine strategy will shift toward more local public health clinics, community outreach efforts, mobile programs and pop-up clinics. These will take place within specific communities and populations throughout the province, where the need is greatest.

“I want to express my gratitude to the health authority teams and community partners for their exceptional efforts in delivering our vaccination program throughout the province,” said Dr. Penny Ballem, B.C.’s immunization lead. “And during the next push, there will be even more convenient opportunities for people to get a life-saving vaccine to protect yourself and those around you.”

Data from the BC Centre of Disease Control (BCCDC) shows that less than 5% of COVID-19 cases from June 15 to July 15 were among fully vaccinated people. In addition, during the same time period, 78% of people hospitalized in B.C. with COVID-19 were unvaccinated.

A full list of Vax for BC events happening throughout the province is listed in the backgrounder section below and is also available online: gov.bc.ca/vaxforbc

British Columbians will also be able to download thank-you letters from the Vax for BC website.

Quick Facts:

* 3,736,651 people (80.6%) 12 and older have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine and 2,840,194 (61.3%) have been fully vaccinated with their second dose as of July 26.

* More than 6.5 million COVID-19 vaccine doses have been safely administered in B.C.

* Thousands of British Columbians have helped immunize or volunteered their efforts to make B.C.’s Immunization rollout a success.

* Wearing a mask continues to be strongly recommended in all indoor public spaces for people who are 12 and over and not yet fully vaccinated.

Learn More:

People throughout B.C. can find their nearest Vax for BC event online by visiting: www.gov.bc.ca/VaxForBC

To register to get a first or second dose of COVID-19 vaccine, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/getvaccinated.html

For immunization information, visit the BCCDC’s website: www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/covid-19-vaccine

 

BACKGROUNDER
Walk-in vaccination opportunities throughout B.C.

From mobile clinics to pop-up activities in the community, vaccination sites throughout the province will take part in Vax for BC, offering unique walk-in opportunities to get more people fully vaccinated with their first and second doses.

The following are a list of events currently planned for Vax for BC. Events may be added to the schedule or not listed below. For an up-to-date list, visit: gov.bc.ca/vaxforbc

Interior

Date: July 27
Time: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
City: Pritchard
Location: Pritchard Community Hall
Address: 1941 Duck Range Rd.
Event: Drop-in clinic

Date: July 26 and 27
Time: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
City: Fernie
Location: Canadian Tire
Address: 1791 9th Ave.
Event: Drop-in clinic

Date: July 28
Time: 11:30 a.m. to 6:15 p.m.
City: Oliver
Location: Eastlink Curling Centre
Address: 735 McKinney Rd.
Event: Drop-in clinic, focus on youth and young adults

Date: July 28 and 29
Time: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
City: Clearwater
Location: North Thompson Sportsplex
Address: 428 Murtle Cres.
Event: Drop-in clinic

Date: July 29
Time: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Therapy Dog: 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.)
City: Trail
Location: Waneta Plaza
Address: 8100 BC-3B
Event: Drop-in clinic

Date: July 24 and July 31
Time: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
City: Penticton
Location: Penticton Farmers’ Market
Address: 100 block of Main Street
Event: Drop-in clinic

Date: July 25 and Aug. 1
Time: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
City: Summerland
Location: Summerland Farmers’ Market
Address: 9536 Main St.
Event: Drop-in clinic
For a complete list of ongoing IH immunization clinics: https://news.interiorhealth.ca/news/covid-19-immunization-clinics/

Fraser

Date: July 26
Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
City: Fort Langley
Address: Mary Avenue between Glover Road and Church Street
Event: Mobile vaccine bus, no appointment required

Date: July 27
Time: noon to 5 p.m.
City: Surrey
Location: Chuck Bailey Recreation Centre
Address: 13458 107A Ave., Surrey
Event: No appointment required. Meet BC Lions alumni Sean Millington and mascot Leo the Lion, food trucks, DJ music

Date: July 27
Time: 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
City: New Westminster
Location: Umbrella Multicultural Health Co-op
Address: Carnarvon Street
Event: Drop-in clinic

Date: July 28
Time: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
City: Port Moody
Location: White Pine Beach Road
Address: TBC
Event: Outdoor drop-in clinic

Date: July 29
Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
City: Harrison Hot Springs
Location: Civic Centre
Address: TBC
Event: Outdoor drop-in clinic

Date: July 30
Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
City: Delta
Location: BC Ferries Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal
Address: 1 Ferry Causeway
Event: Mobile vaccine bus, no appointment required

Date: July 30 to Aug. 1
Time: Booth 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.; Clinic hours 10:45 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
City: Abbotsford
Location: Abbotsford Agrifair
Address: 32470 Haida Dr.
Event: Booth at Agrifair directing fairgoers to drop-in clinic

Date: Aug. 2
Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
City: Delta
Location: Centennial Beach
Address: 541 Centennial Parkway
Event: Outdoor drop-in clinic

Date: Aug. 3
Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
City: Surrey
Location: Lakshmi Narayan Temple
Address: 8321 140 St.
Event: Drop-in clinic

Date: Aug. 5
Time: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
City: Surrey
Location: Ministry of Housing and Social Development office
Address: 130- 13749, 72nd Ave.
Event: Drop-in clinic

Date: Aug. 6
Time: 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
City: Coquitlam
Location: Cineplex Coquitlam
Event: drop-in

Date: Aug. 7
Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
City: Surrey
Location: Fiji Islamic Centre
Address: 12988 84 Ave.
Event: Drop-in clinic

Date: Daily
Time: 10:45 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
City: Abbotsford
Location: Abbotsford AgRec

Date: Daily
Time: 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
City: Burnaby
Location: Christine Sinclair Community Centre
Address: 3713 Kensington Ave.
Event: Drop-in clinic, sticky note thank-you wall

Date: Daily
Time: 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
City: Surrey
Location: Cloverdale Recreation Centre
Address: 6188 176 St.
Event: Drop-in clinic, sticky note thank-you wall

Date: Daily
Time: Saturday-Wednesday – 10:15 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Thursday-Friday: 10:15 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
City: Chlliwack
Location: 45610 Luckakuck Way

Date: Daily
Time: 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
City: Coquitlam
Location: Poirier Forum
Address: 618 Poirier St.
Event: Drop-in clinic, sticky note thank-you wall

Date: Daily
Time: 10:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
City: Delta
Location: North Delta Recreation Centre
Address: 11415 84 Ave.
Event: Drop-in clinic, sticky note thank you wall

Date: Daily
Time: 8 a.m. to 8:45 p.m.
City: Langley
Location: Langley Events Centre
Address: 7888 200 St.
Event: Drop-in clinic, sticky note thank-you wall

Date: Daily
Time: 10:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
City: Maple Ridge
Location: Haney Place Mall
Address: 11900 Haney Pl., Unit 21
Event: Drop-in clinic, sticky note thank-you wall

Date: Daily
Time: 10:45 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
City: New Westminster
Location: Anvil Centre
Address: 777 Columbia St.
Event: Drop-in clinic, sticky note thank-you wall

Date: Daily
Time: 11:15 a.m. to 7 p.m.
City: Surrey
Location: Guildford Recreation Centre
Address: 15105 105 Ave.
Event: Drop-in clinic, sticky note thank-you wall

Date: Daily
Time: 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
City: Surrey
Location: South Surrey Recreation Centre
Address: 14601 20 Ave.
Event: Drop-in clinic, sticky note thank-you wall

Date: Daily
Time: 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
City: Surrey
Location: Surrey North
Address: 10025 King George Blvd.
Event: Drop-in clinic, sticky note thank-you wall

Vancouver Island

Date: July 27
Time: 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.
City: Nanaimo
Location: Westwood Lake
Address: 381 Westwood Lake Rd.
Event: Mobile vaccine van, no appointment required

Date: July 28
Time: 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.
City: Port Alberni
Location: Canadian Tire
Address: 3550 Johnston Rd.
Event: Mobile vaccine van, no appointment required

Date: July 29
Time: 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
City: Oceanside
Location: TBD
Address: TBD
Event: Mobile vaccine van, no appointment required

Date: July 30
Time: 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
City: Langford
Location: Victoria FC (football club) home opener game
Address: 1089 Langford Pwy
Event: Mobile vaccine van, no appointment required

Date: Aug. 4
Time: 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
City: Cumberland
Location: Village Square
Address: 2673 Dunsmuir Ave.
Event: Mobile vaccine van, no appointment required

Date: Aug. 5
Time: TBD
City: Courtenay
Location: TBD
Address: TBD
Event: Mobile vaccine van, no appointment required

Date: Aug. 6
Time: TBD
City: Campbell River
Location: TBD
Address: TBD
Event: Mobile vaccine van, no appointment required

Date: Aug. 9
Time: TBD
City: Sooke
Location: TBD
Address: TBD
Event: Mobile vaccine van, no appointment required

Vancouver Coastal

Date: Aug. 1
Time: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
City: West Vancouver
Location: West Vancouver Community Centre
Address: 2121 Marine Dr.
Event: Drop-in clinic, live music

Date: Aug. 3 and 4
Times: Aug. 3: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Aug. 4: 1 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
City: Squamish
Location: Brennan Park Recreation Centre
Address: 1009 Centennial Way
Event: Drop-in clinic, live music

Date: Aug. 4
Time: 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
City: Whistler
Location: Whistler Conference Centre
Address: 4010 Whistler Way
Event: Drop-in clinic, live music

Date: Aug. 4
Time: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
City: North Vancouver
Location: ICBC vaccine clinic
Address: 255 Lloyd Ave.
Event: Drop-in clinic, live music

Date: Aug. 4
Time: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
City: Vancouver
Location: Vancouver Convention Centre
Address: 999 Canada Place
Event: Drop-in clinic, live music

Date: Aug. 4
Time: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
City: Vancouver
Location: Italian Cultural Centre
Address: 3075 Slocan St.
Event: Drop-in clinic, live music

Date: Aug. 4
Time: 9:15 a.m. to 4 p.m.
City: Powell River
Location: Powell River Recreation Centre
Address: 5001 Joyce Ave.
Event: Drop-in clinic, live music

Date: Aug. 4
Time: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
City: Richmond
Location: Kwantlen Polytechnic University
Address: 8771 Lansdowne Rd.
Event: Drop-in clinic, live music

Date: Aug. 6
Time: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
City: North Vancouver
Location: ICBC vaccine clinic
Address: 255 Lloyd Ave.
Event: Celtic ensemble performance

Date: Aug. 6 to 20
Time: TBD
City: Powell River
Location: TBD
Address: TBD
Event: Drop-in clinics

Date: Aug. 7
Time: TBD
City: Vancouver
Location: Killarney Community Centre
Address: 6260 Killarney Street
Event: Drop-in clinic, live music

Date: Aug. 21
Time: TBD
City: Vancouver
Location: Vancouver Whitecaps game
Address: TBD
Event: Drop-in clinic

Northern

Date: July 27 – onward
Time: Mon. to Sat., 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
City: Prince George
Location: Prince George Conference and Civic Centre
Address: 808 Canada Games Way, Prince George
Event: Drop-in clinic

Date: July 27-Aug. 6
Time: Varies
City: Fort St. John and area
Location: Totem Mall Old Marks Work Wearhouse
Address: 9600 93 Ave., Fort St. John

Event: Drop-in clinic

Date: July 29-30, Aug. 3-6
Time: TBD
City: Dawson Creek and area
Location: Onintiv Events Centre, CO-OP Mercer Hall
Address: CO-OP Mercer Hall #1 300 Hwy 2
Event: Drop-in clinic

Date: Aug. 3-6, 9-13
Time: 9 a.m. – noon
City: Terrace and area
Location: Terrace Health Unit
Address: 3412 Kalum St, Terrace
Event: Drop-in clinic