As COVID cases rebound in the province, B.C.’s top doctor is urging people to take advantage of “Walk-in Wednesday.”
Dr. Bonnie Henry says anyone can walk into clinics across the province today to get their first dose of a vaccine or their second, if they’ve been waiting for at least 49 days.
“We know that getting a high level of vaccination protects us from all of the strains that are circulating right now,” she said. “We know, I presented the data last week, that the vast majority of people who are getting sick right now have not been immunized.”
“We know that many people who’ve been displaced because of the wildfires or because of the issues that we’ve had across the province may not have had the opportunity to get their second dose or their first dose. There will be opportunities all across the province for people to get caught up on their vaccines.”
The goal of Walk-in Wednesday is to offer 20,000 doses of a COVID vaccine to people 12 and older anywhere across the province. As it stands, there are 81.4 per cent of people 12 and older who have received a first dose, while 67.3 per cent of people are fully vaccinated.
B.C. though reported 742 new COVID cases over this past long weekend, including 395 in Interior Health alone.
“We think about the people who are in hospital. The people who are in ICU. Less than four per cent of the cases that we’ve had in the last two months have been in people who have been vaccinated,” Henry added. “So we know vaccines work. It protects people. And that’s what we need to focus on right now.”
In Kamloops, there will be live entertainment, therapy dogs and smoothies at the COVID vaccine clinic at the Tournament Capital Centre, which will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“A brass band made up of members of Beyond Brass and calling themselves the Safe Sectionals during the pandemic will be performing starting at 11 a.m. to celebrate the city’s vaccination progress and further encourage fellow Kamloopsians to walk-in or dance-in for their first or second dose,” the health authority said, in a statement.
“Therapy dogs from St John Ambulance will also be on-site from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. for anyone who needs support getting their vaccination, or anyone who just loves dogs.”
As has been the case, people can also choose to get their first or second dose of a COVID vaccine by making an appointment online, by phone at 1‑833‑838‑2323, or at a Service BC office.
For a list of all COVID-19 vaccine clinics in Interior Health as well as other resources, go here.
TODAY!!
Walk-In Wednesday!!!
Head to any vaccination clinic anywhere in BC and get your first or second dose today, without an appointment: https://t.co/JZxJMAS3QD #VaxForBC pic.twitter.com/Qm7A8fJgnd
— Adrian Dix (@adriandix) August 4, 2021
