Some Fraser Health drop-in COVID-19 vaccine clinics quietly offering 2nd doses
A sign at a same-day COVID-19 vaccination clinic for commercial truckers in Delta clearly said “first dose only,” but many people who drove up and dropped in on Wednesday were getting their second shots.
“If we are not busy and someone is here for their second dose, then we will accommodate them if we are able to,” said Sarah Siebert, an on-site spokesperson for Fraser Health.
The clinic – located in the truck pull-out area on Highway 91 northbound between the Highway 10 and 64th Avenue exits – is scheduled to be open again on Thursday.
“Truck drivers are busy doing their routes and haven’t always had the opportunity to book into one of our clinics, so we wanted to provide an easy access opportunity for them,” said Siebert.
Second doses are also available at Fraser Health’s low-barrier EASI and neighbourhood drop-in clinics.
“It’s advertised as first dose,” said family physician Dr. Madhu Jawanda, co-founder of the This is Our Shot campaign.
“It’s not officially second dose, but if you go there and you’re close to your eight-week mark, they’ll give you your dose if they have (shots) leftover.”
Fraser Health told CTV News Vancouver people who qualify for dose two can put their name on a virtual wait list at its same-day clinics. They will be texted to come back later that day if there is enough vaccine for them to get their second dose.
Jawanda says that information should be available on the Fraser Health COVID-19 clinic webpage.
“As family doctors, we have boots on the ground and we are directing our patients as to how to go about getting their vaccines,” Jawanda said. “If there are these sort of back door entrances to getting second doses, it doesn’t really make us look great either. It’s good to have public health being open and transparent.”
A new feature on the province’s vaccine booking portal will make it easier for people to find a second shot quicker. People no longer have to cancel their first appointment before shopping around for one that’s available sooner. Instead, if they hit the cancel button in their confirmation email, they will be asked if they want to cancel or reschedule.
With so much vaccine arriving daily, British Columbians who booked second-dose appointments in late June or July can likely get in much sooner if they reschedule now.
They can also call the vaccine booking hotline.
“Ask them, ‘This is when my appointment is, do you have any other availabilities?’” said Jawanda. “The experience is, they will be bumped up.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Half of Canadians have negative opinion of latest Liberal budget: poll
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
Twins from Toronto were Canada's top two female finishers at this year's Boston Marathon
When identical twin sisters Kim and Michelle Krezonoski were invited to compete against some of the world’s most elite female runners at last week’s Boston Marathon, they were in disbelief.
Ottawa injects another $36M into vaccine injury compensation fund
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
Senate expenses climbed to $7.2 million in 2023, up nearly 30%
Senators in Canada claimed $7.2 million in expenses in 2023, a nearly 30 per cent increase over the previous year.
NASA hears from Voyager 1, the most distant spacecraft from Earth, after months of quiet
NASA has finally heard back from Voyager 1 again in a way that makes sense. The most distant spacecraft from Earth hadn't sent home any understandable data since last November.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Train derailed in Sarnia after colliding with a truck
Police are investigating after a transport truck collided with a train in Sarnia.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.