Got questions about the COVID-19 vaccine rollout in New Westminster?
You can get answers at a livestream conversation with health officials set for Thursday, April 8. The city is hosting the conversation with Dr. Ingrid Tyler, Fraser Health’s executive medical director, and Sharat Chandra, chief project officer and executive director from Fraser Health.
Anyone with questions can send them in advance to [email protected]. The meeting will be streamed through the city’s Facebook page, and a condensed version will also be available on the city’s website and through its social media channels, according to a March 29 report from the mayor’s office.
The meeting is part of the city’s efforts to help health officials with the rollout of the vaccine in New Westminster.
Two COVID vaccine clinics are up and running already in New Westminster: at Century House and at Douglas College. A third mass vaccination clinic is being set up in the Anvil Centre (777 Columbia St.), and that’s scheduled to start operations on April 7.
Here’s what you need to know:
WHO CAN GET VACCINATED NOW?
B.C.’s age-based vaccination program is currently unrolling in Fraser Health (the health authority that covers the territory from Burnaby to Boston Bar, including New Westminster) on a year-by-year basis. As of yesterday (Sunday, March 28) at noon, appointments are available for people born in 1948 or earlier, or Indigenous people born in 1966 or earlier.
As of today (Monday, March 29) at noon, people of all ages who have been deemed “clinically extremely vulnerable” due to medical conditions can also start booking their vaccination appointments. Note that those who qualify under this category are receiving invitation letters from provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry; letters were being mailed starting March 24 and should be received no later than April 15.
Health-care workers, designated essential visitors for long-term care and assisted living, clients of home health or home support and other previously defined priority groups can also continue to book.
Starting in April, designated front-line priority workers will also begin receiving vaccines. Those vaccines are being arranged through employers and will not be booked through the general public booking system.
WHEN WILL I BE ELIGIBLE?
The provincial government is unrolling Phase 3 of its vaccination plan – the age-based rollout for the general public – through April and May. Vaccines will be made available for age groups in five-year increments, covering people aged 79 down to 60 and all Indigenous adults (aged 18 and up).
May and June will see Phase 4, the rollout of vaccines for those aged 59 down to 18.
The current plan is to have all first doses delivered by June, although the province notes that the timeline for each phase may vary based on vaccine availability.
(Note that all ages refer to the age a person will turn in the calendar year 2021.)
WHAT DAYS AND HOURS DO NEW WESTMINSTER CLINICS OPERATE?
The Century House clinic is operating Tuesdays and Thursdays between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., by appointment. It’s currently scheduled to wind up operations on April 8, but that date may be extended.
The Douglas College clinic, at 700 Royal Ave., is operating now, by appointment, and will continue to offer appointments as required.
The Anvil Centre clinic will be open seven days a week starting April 8, with appointments available between 7:30 a.m. and 9:30 p.m. That clinic is scheduled to remain in operation until Nov. 30, 2021.
All clinics are available by appointment only; people must book their vaccine appointments through Fraser Health online or call the booking line at 1-855-755-2455.
WHAT IF I HAVE A MEDICAL QUESTION ABOUT THE VACCINE?
The B.C. Centre for Disease Control has an extensive Q&A about the vaccine at its website, including medical questions.
Direct all questions about your personal medical situation to your health-care provider (family doctor or nurse practitioner), or call Fraser Health’s virtual care team at 1-800-314-0999 between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. seven days a week. Outside of those hours, call 811.
Follow Julie MacLellan on Twitter @juliemaclellan.
Email Julie, [email protected].
