Close X
Monday, November 11, 2024
ADVT 
National

New approach to COVID-19 shots in Prince Rupert

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 10 Mar, 2021 05:44 PM
  • New approach to COVID-19 shots in Prince Rupert

Health officials say COVID-19 outbreaks remain stubbornly frequent in one northwestern British Columbia city and are prompting a new approach to vaccinations.

Northern Health, the Ministry of Health and the Provincial Health Officer say the entire community of Prince Rupert and nearby Port Edward will be immunized over the next three weeks.

The first clinics for roughly 12,000 Prince Rupert-area residents begin Monday and continue until April 1.

Those eligible can dial a dedicated phone line and appointments will be assigned based on age, with vaccinations for the city's oldest residents starting March 15 and clinics for those aged 18 to 39 begin March 29.

A statement from Northern Health says the community approach is needed because Prince Rupert has high COVID-19 case and positivity rates that have not reflected recent improvements seen elsewhere in the region.

Northern Health is also using the community immunization model on Haida Gwaii, while Island Health says all residents of nearly 30 communities with populations under 4,000 or with accessibility challenges such as the Gulf Islands, will also be vaccinated together in one or two-day clinics.

Island Health says details of those community clinics are still being arranged.

Northern Health chief medical health officer Dr. Jong Kim says offering group immunizations in areas hit hard by the virus is a responsible approach.

“Quickly vaccinating the entire community is a great way to protect everyone in Prince Rupert, and keep them safe,” Kim says in the statement.

 

MORE National ARTICLES

No change to Georgia Strait herring quota: DFO

No change to Georgia Strait herring quota: DFO
The department says at a news conference Friday the commercial allocation for this season of 16,330 tonnes ensures the continued health of the stocks, which are an important food source for B.C.'s marine ecosystem.

No change to Georgia Strait herring quota: DFO

Pfizer says vaccine safe in normal freezers

Pfizer says vaccine safe in normal freezers
Pfizer's vaccine has been the trickiest to handle because until now the companies said it had to be kept frozen between -60C and -80C until shortly before it is thawed and injected.

Pfizer says vaccine safe in normal freezers

Virus risk drops after one vaccine dose: B.C.

Virus risk drops after one vaccine dose: B.C.
The agency says in a statement that research led by Dr. Danuta Skowronski, the head of its influenza and emerging respiratory pathogens team, came to the conclusion after analyzing COVID-19 cases in long-term care homes.

Virus risk drops after one vaccine dose: B.C.

BC man charged by Alberta investigators for allegedly uploading sexual pictures of his own daughter

BC man charged by Alberta investigators for allegedly uploading sexual pictures of his own daughter
Following up on a tip, that was initially submitted to the Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) team based in Calgary, investigators were able to identify a B.C. suspect allegedly uploading child sexual abuse materials online.

BC man charged by Alberta investigators for allegedly uploading sexual pictures of his own daughter

Trudeau pledges more funding for vaccines abroad

Trudeau pledges more funding for vaccines abroad
The announcement comes as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson hosts Justin Trudeau and their G7 counterparts for a virtual leaders' summit aimed at bringing renewed momentum to COVID-19 vaccine distribution.

Trudeau pledges more funding for vaccines abroad

PM brushes off provincial defiance on handgun bans

PM brushes off provincial defiance on handgun bans
Trudeau says federal officials will have conversations with municipalities seeking handgun controls even if their provincial leaders oppose such bans.

PM brushes off provincial defiance on handgun bans