Registration begins today for B.C.’s first age-based COVID-19 vaccination cohort.
Seniors over 90 and Indigenous people over 65 can call to book an immunization appointments. The first age-based vaccinations begin on March 15.
Eligible seniors can call 1-833-348-4787 any day of the week to book their shot. The call centre will ask for information such as name, date of birth, postal code, personal health number and contact information. An appointment date, time and location will be provided.
Next week (March 15) registration will open for seniors over 85 and the week after that (March 22), seniors over 80.
If an eligible senior has difficulty registering themselves, a family member, friend or community advocate can register for them, according to Island Health.
Oceanside residents will be vaccinated in the Parksville Community Centre from March 15 to Oct. 31, according to Island Health. The clinic will operate from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Communities with a population under 4,000 and with accessibility challenges will not be divided into age cohorts, but will be vaccinated as a group. Island Health said the following communities will receive details about their vaccinations in the coming days:
Bamfield, Cortes Island, Denman Island, Gabriola Island, Galiano Island, Gold River, Hornby Island, Kyuquot, Lasqueti Island, Mayne Island, North Pender Island, Penelakut, Port Alice, Port Hardy, Port McNeil, Port Renfrew/Jordan River, Quadra Island, Read Island, Saturna Island, Sayward, Sointula, South Pender Island, Tahsis, Thetis Island, Tofino, Ucluelet and Zeballos.
Island Health said it is contacting certain groups directly to book appointments, so they do not need to book an appointment. These groups include: community health workers; long-term home support clients; people living and working in independent living centres; people living and working in seniors supportive housing; hospital staff and community general practitioners and medical specialists.
