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Vancouver Coastal Health postpones appointments at two COVID-19 vaccination clinics and temporarily closes test collection
B.C.'s Provincial Health Officer rescinds orders for COVID-19
This news release contains information that is more than six months old and may be out of date. On July 26, 2024, B.C.’s Provincial Health Officer issued an order to end the public health emergency for COVID-19 and rescinded all related orders.
Vancouver, B.C. – As B.C. continues to experience a period of extreme heat, Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) is closely monitoring the conditions at all of our COVID-19 vaccination clinics and test collection sites. Due to elevated temperatures at some clinical sites, VCH has postponed all appointments today at our West End Community Centre vaccination clinic and at the Vancouver Community College clinic, effective as of 1:00p.m. VCH's Vincent's testing site will also temporarily close today due to the current weather conditions, effective as of 11:30a.m.
Current weather conditions will also affect those attending the ICBC vaccination clinic today. Clients will be diverted to the West Vancouver Community Centre which has the capacity to accommodate all residents with booked appointments.
Those with a booked vaccination appointment at either the West End Community Centre clinic or the Vancouver Community College clinic will receive an alert through the provincial booking system notifying them that their appointment has been cancelled. Residents who are affected are encouraged to rebook their appointment at any VCH vaccination clinic. Residents who require assistance or who have questions can call 1.833.838.2323 seven days a week, from 7 a.m. to 7p.m.
Those individuals requiring COVID-19 testing services are advised to visit an alternative VCH test collection site in our region.
The health and safety of everyone at our vaccination clinics is always our top priority, and VCH has taken a number of preventative measures across its vaccination sites to ensure residents and staff remain safe, including providing bottled water, cooling packs and umbrellas for those waiting outside. VCH is asking people to show up at their scheduled appointment time to avoid line ups outside and our staff are closely monitoring the flow of people at all clinics to ensure lines are moving as quickly as possible.
Throughout the week, VCH will continue to closely monitor weather conditions to ensure clinics can continue to operate safely and efficiently. If further adjustments to clinic operations are required, residents who have an appointment booking will be notified as a priority. VCH apologizes to residents for any inconvenience caused by this change in clinic schedule.
Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) is responsible for the delivery of $4.1 billion in community, hospital and long-term care to more than one million people in communities including Richmond, Vancouver, the North Shore, Sunshine Coast, Sea to Sky corridor, Powell River, Bella Bella and Bella Coola. VCH also provides specialized care and services for people throughout B.C., and is the province's hub of health-care education and research.
Rachel Galligan
Communications Leader, Public Health
Vancouver Coastal Health