Another milestone in B.C.’s fight against COVID-19 will be hit Monday, when British Columbians living in the community can begin booking appointments to receive their COVID-19 vaccine.
Monday morning, seniors 90 and older, and Indigenous people 65 and older, can begin calling into the Interior Health call centre to book their vaccination appointment. Beginning March 15, those 85 and older can do the same, while the week after that, the call centre will open up to those 80 and older.
Eligible people can book their appointments at 1-877-740-7747 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m, with appointments beginning March 15. See below for a list of vaccine clinic locations in the Thompson-Okanagan. The full Interior list of more than 40 clinics can be found here, while more information on the rollout can be found here.
“This work is ongoing and especially as we prepare for even more immunizations in the weeks and months ahead, these [clinic] lists will be adjusted and updated as required,” said Karen Bloemink, IH vice-president of pandemic response, during a media availability Sunday.
During Phase 2 of B.C.’s vaccine rollout plan, more than 400,000 seniors, healthcare workers and other frontline workers will be immunized, between mid-March and early April.
Sunday, Bloemink said only those eligible based on their age will be able to book through the call centre. She asked those who are not yet at the eligible age to not call in, so as not to tie up the phone lines. If someone forgets to book their appointment the week they become eligible, they can book it at any time moving forward.
To book the appointment, those calling in will need to provide their legal name, date of birth, postal code, personal health number from the back of B.C. driver’s licences or BC services cards, and current contact information, including a regularly monitored email address or phone number.
Bloemink said she’s very confident IH will have enough supply of vaccines over the coming weeks to immunize the people in Phase 2 who want it.
She said after receiving the first dose, the health authority will reach out to individuals at a later date about booking the second dose appointment.
With Interior Health being one of the larger health authorities by geography, that poses some challenges for the vaccine rollout.
“We have worked with many individuals and partners to create access in the far flung areas of our health authority,” Bloemink said. “That has created some unique challenges for us, but we do have plans in place to address access in those areas, as well as in our more urban areas.”
Bloemink said they’ll be relying on friends and family members to help older people get to the clinic for their immunization appointments, but she added that they’ll work with people on a case-by-case basis if that’s not possible.
IH chief medical health officer Dr. Albert de Villiers said those receiving their vaccine will be unable to choose what type of vaccine they receive, as it will depend what type of vaccine that specific clinic has.
“With the over 80 or over 90 year old, we are offering either Pfizer or Moderna,” he said. “The AstraZeneca vaccine will be offered for younger people … when the Johnson & Johnson vaccine comes on board, we’ll have to add that to the discussion as well, we don’t know the timeline on that vaccine.”
Last week, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said she’s optimistic that B.C. could be in a “post-pandemic world” by the summer.
Local vaccine clinics:
- Kelowna: Health Services Centre, 505 Doyle Ave. – opening March 17
- Kelowna: Trinity Hall, 1905 Springfield Rd. – opening March 15
- West Kelowna: Westbank Community Centre, 2466 Main St – opening March 22
- Summerland: Summerland Curling Club, 8820 Jubilee Rd. E – opening March 15
- Penticton: South Okanagan Trade and Convention Centre, 273 Power St. – opening March 15
- Osoyoos: Osoyoos Health Centre, 4816 89th St. – opening March 15
- Oliver: Oliver Legion, 6417 Main St. – opening March 15
- Keremeos: South Similkameen Health Centre, 700 3rd St. – opening March 15
- Vernon: Vernon Rec. Centre, 3310 37th Ave – opening March 15
- Salmon Arm: Salmon Arm Rec. Centre, 170 5th Ave. SE – opening March 15
- Enderby: Enderby Seniors Centre, 1101 George St. – opening March 15
- Merritt: Merritt Public Health, 3451 Voght St. – opening March 15
- Chase: Chase Community Hall, 547 Shuswap Ave. – opening March 15
- Kamloops North: McArthur Park Rec. Area,1655 Island Pkwy – opening March 15
- Kamloops South: Tournament Capital Centre, 910 McGill Rd. – opening March 22
