If you’ve been meaning to make an appointment for your COVID-19 vaccine at Anvil Centre, you’d better get on it.
The mass immunization clinic in downtown New Westminster will soon be shutting down, as Fraser Health shifts into the next phase of its vaccine rollout.
More than two million doses have now been given out in the region (which spans the territory from Burnaby to Boston Bar), according to a Fraser Health media release issued July 29. Region-wide, more than 80% of eligible people have received at least one dose, and more than 60% have received their second dose.
With the demand for doses declining, Fraser Health will now be offering just four mass immunization clinics at regional hubs: Abbotsford’s Ag-Rec Centre, Poirier Forum in Coquitlam, Guildford Recreation Centre in Surrey, and North Delta Recreation Centre.
Immunization will also be available at the COVID-19 testing and immunization centres already running in a number of municipalities, including Langley, South Delta, South Surrey, Coquitlam and Burnaby (BCIT).
But New Westminster’s Anvil Centre clinic is among a long list of sites that will close. Its final date of operations will be Saturday, Aug. 7. The clinic at Burnaby’s Christine Sinclair Community Centre will also wind up the same day.
In the meantime, people in search of a first dose can walk in to the Anvil Centre (777 Columbia St.) any day between 10:45 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. to get their shot; no appointments are needed. Second doses will also be given out for those who are eligible, as capacity and supplies allow.
Next Wednesday, Aug. 4, has also been declared a provincewide “Walk-In Wednesday,” where first and second doses will be given out without appointments at all clinics in B.C. Anyone who received their first dose before June 16 will be eligible for a second dose that day.
Fraser Health says it will continue to focus on providing convenient access to vaccine for those who still need it.
“Fraser Health is committed to ensuring everyone who wants to be protected against COVID-19 by being immunized has access to the vaccine,” the release said. “We continue to ramp up our pop-up clinics, mobile clinics, outreach clinics and community initiatives to meet people where they are congregating, so access to vaccine is easy.
In New West, several neighbourhood clinics have been offered in past weeks at St. Barnabas Church in the Brow of the Hill neighbourhood and the Umbrella Multicultural Health Co-op downtown. So far, no new neighbourhood pop-up clinics are scheduled for New West, but anyone looking for clinic info should check the Fraser Health website, as listings are always being updated.
Follow Julie MacLellan on Twitter @juliemaclellan.
Email Julie, [email protected].
