Massive line for COVID-19 booster shots at Vancouver Convention Centre
Hundreds of people were forced to stand in line for hours to get a COVID-19 vaccine booster shot at the Vancouver Convention Centre Thursday.
The line stretched from the convention centre's east wing at Canada Place along the waterfront all the way to the convention centre's west wing, near the seaplane terminal.
Michael Silmont and his wife had appointments booked for 2 p.m. and 2:15 p.m. They waited outside in the line for about 45 minutes before seeing how big the wait was inside the building.
“There’s about another half an hour line up inside as if you’re going to a stadium, to me that is a high risk,” Silmont said. “The whole point of going to get a booster is not to get (COVID-19).”
Silmont and his wife abandoned the wait, saying having that many people inside seemed “concerning.” Silmont asked workers why the wait was so long.
“They said, well, because of the snow they were late starting today,” he said.
He and his wife have now rebooked appointments at a pharmacy for next week.
In a statement, Vancouver Coastal Health apologized for the inconvenience of wait times and thanked people for their patience. The health authority did not give a reason for the long delay, but the statement said, in part:
“We always experience some hiccups on the first few days of a new clinic, and we have never vaccinated this many people on Day 1 (3,600 people) and Day 2 (5,000 people).”
The health authority also added that drop-ins for booster shots will not be accommodated.
However, some waiting in the lineup Thursday reported that staff at the site were not checking to see whether people had appointments booked in the first place.
Vaccination centres in Vancouver Coastal Health are open to walk-ins for those who have not yet received a first or second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Appointments are required for third doses and for children under age 12.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
'It was joy': Trapped B.C. orca calf eats seal meat, putting rescue on hold
A rescue operation for an orca calf trapped in a remote tidal lagoon off Vancouver Island has been put on hold after it started eating seal meat thrown in the water for what is believed to be the first time.
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
B.C. judge orders shared dog custody for exes who both 'clearly love Stella'
In a first-of-its-kind ruling, a B.C. judge has awarded a former couple joint custody of their dog.
Saskatoon police to search landfill for remains of woman missing since 2020
Saskatoon police say they will begin searching the city’s landfill for the remains of Mackenzie Lee Trottier, who has been missing for more than three years.
Shivering for health: The myths and truths of ice baths explained
In a climate of social media-endorsed wellness rituals, plunging into cold water has promised to aid muscle recovery, enhance mental health and support immune system function. But the evidence of such benefits sits on thin ice, according to researchers.