It has become a hit-and-miss scenario for those eligible for a COVID-19 vaccination to find a convenient clinic location to book a shot.
While Fraser Health has made things easier through its online booking system, the health region’s page of available clinics shows that, as more people are becoming eligible, some centres have just a few slots available, while others are full and not even taking appointments.
Among those not taking appointments at of the start of this week was the Ladner clinic located next to municipal hall, although there were still plenty of bookings available at the new clinic set up at the North Delta Recreation Centre, which opened Monday.
The health region on Tuesday noted that as more clinics come online, some of the previous locations will either close or be repurposed.
The Optimist has emails into Fraser Health to get more clarity on the booking availability at the Ladner clinic.
Cathy Wiebe, executive director White Rock/South Surrey and Delta Health Services and Peace Arch and Delta Hospital, told the Optimist last week things had gone well when the clinics opened, but could get interesting when more massive numbers begin trying to book an appointment.
She noted there’s potentially one more clinic coming for Delta but she hadn’t heard if that’s been confirmed yet, and it would be up to the province to make such an announcement.
Fraser Health on Tuesday announced the opening of five new mass COVID-19 immunization clinics, including the North Delta Recreation Centre, and that planning is underway to also open new clinics in Langley, Burnaby, New Westminster and Surrey.
So far, another clinic has not been announced for South Delta.
For a full listing of the current clinics as they come online, visit: https://www.fraserhealth.ca/vaccineclinic#.YFpOVJtlCpo.
People who are eligible to book their COVID-19 vaccine can do so online by using Fraser Health’s 24/7 booking tool at https://fraser-health-staff-vaccinations.myhealthinfo.ca/index.php or by calling the FHA’s COVID-19 Immunization Booking phone line at 1-855-755-2455.
Meanwhile, the City of Delta will be trying to make things easier for seniors who may need a ride to a clinic.
City manager Sean McGill told the Optimist a pilot program started last week where all three of the seniors buses used for Delta residents, with a maximum of seven in two of the buses and five in the smaller bus.
He noted the city has to give a few days’ notice to Fraser Health to hold the spots and staff are working with the health region to try and block book several appointments at a time so that the city can maximize the efficiency of the bus trips.
Fraser Health has been very cooperative and has been allowing the city to coordinate the trip and appointment for the block bookings, said McGill.
“We are phoning seniors from the seniors’ centres to let them know about the bus programs. We are also taking individual bookings when we can work around the block bookings. We are also working with our communications staff to better advertise the bus program,” he explained. “As this is a new service to us, we are still evolving and ironing out some of the details but we will continually streamline things and expect to be very busy with the buses going forward.”
