The increasing spread of the Omnicron variant of COVID that forced the B.C. government to enact new restrictions on social gatherings and event capacities has prompted Northern Health to rethink its original plan to scale back immunization clinics over the Christmas holidays.
The health region now plans to open clinics between Christmas and New Year’s for all people five years and older who have booked appointments through the province’s Get Vaccinated program. People must have already registered online or by phone to get an appointment.
The clinics will be open to unimmunized people who have not received their original two doses as well as the general population in need of booster shots. Northern Health is also targeting immunocompromised people who will require the more potent third doses.
The clinics will take place at the Northern Interior Health Unit, 144 Edmonton St., located across the street just east of the hospital. Those clinics will operate from 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. on Dec. 23, 24, 29, 30 and 31.
“If those dates don’t work for individuals who want to get their vaccine they should check in the Get Vaccinated system for available pharmacy appointments,” said Eryn Collins, Northern Health’s regional manager of public affairs and media relations.
“Going into January, there are going to be plenty of opportunities. I don’t know how far out pharmacies are booking, but I do know there are current opportunities in Prince George over the next two weeks for anyone to get whichever dose it is they require, provided they are eligible.
“If you can get vaccinated and you are eligible for anything, now is the time to do it.”
For more information about the Get Vaccinated program or how to register, call 1-833-838-2323.
Several pharmacies throughout the health region have already been provided vaccines supplies and people with appointments arranged through Get Vaccinated will be able to receive their shots at a local drugstore. Since the pharmacy program began on Tuesday, five pharmacies in Prince George have been provided vaccine supplies to give to the public during the holiday season and that will continue to ramp up in the new year. Collins said pharmacies will not administer doses to children in the five-11 age category.
In January, the Prince George location for Northern Health’s vaccine and booster clinic will continue to be the Uda Dune Baiyoh House of Ancestors Conference Centre, 355 Vancouver St., and people are encouraged to check the vaccine clinic schedule on the Northern Health website to make their next vaccine appointment. The clinic normally operates Wednesdays to Saturdays from 10:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m., but will be closed for the holidays from Dec. 20-Jan. 4.
All ages are eligible at the House of Ancestors and drop-in appointments are available for those who need first doses. Second doses, third doses and booster shots require an appointment for those who are eligible. A six-month wait period from the time a second dose is received is required before people are eligible for a booster or a third dose.
Vanderhoof, rural Burns Lake/Peace River vaccination rates continue to lag below average
Northern Health released an update on its vaccination coverage rates which shows 83 per cent of the population has received at least one dose of COVID vaccine., while 78 per cent of the population has received a second dose, among 454,475 doses administered as of Dec. 14.
In the city, vaccination rates are higher than the regional average. In Prince George North, 86 per cent of residents have had their first dose, 82 per cent have had their second dose and 13 per cent have had a third dose. That’s compared to the rates in Prince George Central (90% first dose, 84% second dose, 13% third dose) and Prince George Southwest (91, 88, 12).
The vaccination rates drop considerably in Prince George Southwest rural (79, 76, 11) and Prince George North Fraser rural (78, 74, 10)
There’s a significant drop between Quesnel City Centre (83-78-16) and Quesnel rural (77,72,14) and between Vanderhoof (76, 70, nine) and Vanderhoof rural (67, 63, eight). The urban-rural difference is also apparent in the Burns Lake area. The rates for Burns Lake town centre (86, 79, 27) are significantly higher than Burns Lake South (67, 64, 17) and Burns Lake North (76, 73, 25).
Rates exceed Northern Health’s average in Prince Rupert (91,86,11), Prince Rupert rural (88,84,29), Terrace (90,85,19), Terrace rural (84, 79, 18), Smithers (87, 82, 14), McBride/Valemount (92, 83, 16), while second-dose rate are slightly lower in Mackenzie (83,76,15) and Fort St. James North (82,76,18)
In the northeast, rates are higher in Fort St. John (81, 74, eight) and Dawson Creek (76-73,25) than in Peace River North rural (56, 52, six) and Peace River South rural (62, 56, nine), which have Northern Health’s lowest vaccination rates.
