Island Health begins vaccinations of whole remote communities this week, starting with Sayward

Island Health is preparing to start vaccinations in a whole-community approach this week for remote locations around Vancouver Island.

Approximately 30 smaller and remote communities without immunization clinics will be the subjects of this approach.

Island Health says that depending on the size of the community, this may result in the entire adult population having the opportunity to be vaccinated during a single visit. This community vaccination will take place over the course of a single day or on consecutive days.

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Island Health officials will begin vaccinating communities this week, starting on Tuesday.

Below is the upcoming schedule for the whole-community vaccination clinics being set up in these remote locations.

Clinics in these areas will be for adults ages 18 and up.

Island Health notes that there is a unique call centre for the whole-community process.

Residents of Sayward, Port Renfrew, Zeballos, Cortes Island, Lasquiti Island, Tahsis, Gold River and Bamfield can call 877-795-0755 (7 a.m.- 7 p.m. daily) to book an appointment in a local clinic. Only residents of these communities will be booked through this dedicated call centre, adds the health authority.

When residents call to book a whole of community appointment, officials will need their first and last name, date of birth, postal code, personal health number, and phone number.

Anyone who can’t make it to the scheduled date within their community will have to wait until their age cohort is eligible to book at a larger clinic.

If you live on a remote island or area, and a whole-community clinic is not scheduled there, you can attend the nearest clinic.

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