Island Health is using a "whole-community" approach to vaccinate people in more remote communities. Teams will visit and vaccinate all eligible residents in communities with less than 4,000 residents that are accessible only by air or ferry, or are more than a three-hour drive from a hospital.
Some areas, such as Quadra Island, will have two clinics — one for seniors 80 and older and Indigenous elders 65 and older, and another for all other eligible adults. Other communities, like Cortes Island, will have a single clinic for everyone 18 and older.
CLINIC LOCATIONS AND DATES
Island Health’s whole-community approach includes two groups.
Group 1
Some communities will have two clinics — one for seniors 80 and older and Indigenous elders 65 and older, followed by one for all eligible adults.
Several communities in this group have already had their first clinics, including Tofino, Port Hardy, Port Alice, Sointula, Port McNeill and Thetis Island. Quadra Island’s clinic was scheduled for Monday.
These are the dates of the remaining first clinics:
• Gabriola Island — March 23
• Galiano Island — March 23
• Mayne Island — March 23
• Denman Island — March 24
• Pender Island — March 24
• Saturna Island — March 24
• Ucluelet — March 24
• Hornby Island — March 25
After April 12, all communities in this group will have a community vaccination clinic for everyone age 18 and older.
Eligible seniors living in these communities can call the Island Health call centre at 1-833-348-4787 (7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily) to schedule an appointment. A support person can call on your behalf.
Check the Island Health website for the most up-to-date schedule.
Group 2
Some communities will have a single clinic for all eligible adults 18 and older:
• Sayward — March 23
• Kyuquot — March 23
• Zeballos — March 24
• Port Renfrew — March 24-25
• Cortes Island — March 25-27
• Tahsis — March 29-30
• Read Island — March 31
• Lasqueti Island — March 29, April 1, 8, 9, 12
• Gold River — April 6-8
• Bamfield — April 7-8
• Woss — Date to be determined
• Protection Island — Date to be determined
• Piers Island — Date to be determined
Check the Island Health website for the most up-to-date schedule.
Residents of Sayward, Port Renfrew, Zeballos, Cortes Island, Lasquiti Island, Tahsis, Gold River and Bamfield can call 1-877-795-0755 (7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily) to book an appointment in a local clinic. Island Health says only residents of these communities will be booked through this call centre.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
You, or the person calling for you, will need to provide your:
• Legal first and last name
• Date of birth
• Postal code
• Personal health number (a.k.a.: Care Card)
• Phone number (a direct line to you or your support person)
Your home community will be confirmed when booking your appointment. If you live in an area that will be served by a larger clinic, you will be required to wait for your age cohort and attend the nearest clinic to you.
If you can’t attend the clinic in your community, you can book a vaccine appointment in one of the larger clinics once your age cohort is eligible.
If you live on a remote island or area and a whole-community clinic is not scheduled there, you can attend the nearest clinic. Island Health asks that you be clear about where you live when booking.
More information is available on the Island Health website.
