As post-secondary institutions prepare for a return to in-person learning, Fraser Health is setting up COVID-19 vaccination clinics at campuses across the region.
Fraser Health is holding on-campus clinics to give students and staff the opportunity to get fully vaccinated and protect themselves, their classmates and their loved ones from COVID-19. Douglas College is hosting clinics at its New Westminster campus on Aug. 31 and Sept. 7 and at its Coquitlam campus on Sept. 1 and 8.
Yorkville University’s campus on Sixth Street in New Westminster is also holding vaccination clinics on Sept. 23 and 24 and Oct. 25.
“We know the safety of our campuses increases when people are vaccinated,” Anne Kang, minister of advanced education and skills training, said in a press release. “These on-campus clinics make it easy and convenient to get the vaccine – make the choice to protect your community and play an active role in ensuring a safe return to school this fall.”
Students and staff can receive their first or second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at the clinics. Friends, family and members of the public who are 12 and older are also welcome to attend these clinics, including those who don’t have personal health numbers and/or people who are not residents of B.C.
To be eligible for a second dose walk-in vaccine, you need to have received an invitation to book your second dose from the province or be at least 28 days since your first dose. People are asked to bring their COVID-19 immunization record card if they have it.
A full list of Fraser Health’s clinic dates, times and locations can be found at fraserhealth.ca/vax.
Meanwhile, the president of the New Westminster Teachers’ Union is awaiting news about vaccination clinics in middle and high schools.
“The minister mentioned that they are going to be working to have clinics in the schools, but there was very little detail,” NWTU president Sarah Wethered told the Record. “It would be really nice to have those details about when the vaccination clinics in schools will start and how they will get kids vaccinated.”
Wethered said Grade 9 vaccination clinics occurred annually during her 20 years of working at New Westminster Secondary School. She said in-school clinics would make it easy for students aged 12 and up to get their COVID-19 vaccinations.
“They are very efficient. Schools are set up for that,” she said. “I hope that that is done quickly at the middle schools, our alternate programs and NWSS, that they can come in one day and do all of the kids who want to be vaccinated.”
When school resumes at B.C.’s colleges and universities in September, a mask mandate will be in place for students, faculty and staff.
"In response to rising COVID-19 cases and as students return to in-person learning on campus, I am issuing a new mandatory mask order for all indoor public areas on campus," provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said in a press release. "It's vitally important for post-secondary students that we resume in-person learning to support young people's well-being, and with these added measures and increasing vaccination rates, we are confident we can do so."
The mask order will apply in all indoor public areas on campus including lobbies, hallways, stairwells, elevators, classrooms and labs.
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