Gabriola Community Hall is the site of community-wide COVID-19 vaccinations for seniors on Tuesday, March 23. (Google)
rural vaccinations

Community-wide COVID vaccination clinics start on Gabriola Island

Mar 23, 2021 | 12:03 PM

NANAIMO — Seniors and Indigenous elders living on Gabriola Island and sparsely populated neighouring islands are rolling up their sleeves.

The first of two community-wide COVID-19 vaccination clinics on Gabriola Island takes place Tuesday, March 23 at the Gabriola Island Community Hall on South Rd.

Mudge and DeCourcy Island residents are lumped into the Gabriola Island-based vaccination effort.

Up first are seniors 80-years-old and above and Indigenous elders at least 65-years-old.

Island Health said their public health team is operating and staffing the appointment-only Gabriola Island clinic with the assistance of volunteers.

After April 12 the rest of the eligible population of Gabriola, Mudge and DeCourcy islands will be vaccinated on Gabriola Island at a yet to be determined date and venue.

Island Health added Protection Island to the list of rural areas where on-site community-wide vaccinations will take place on a yet to be determined date.

All eligible Lasqueti Island residents east of Parksville will be vaccinated when public health teams visit the island for five vaccination dates beginning on Monday, March 29.

People between 85 and 90-years-old are receiving COVID vaccinations at community clinics across the province this week, while those at least 77-years-old can book appointments this week.

As of Monday nearly 540,000 total vaccine doses had been administered province-wide, of which 87,000 are second doses.

Details on COVID-19 vaccination clinics with the Island Health region can be viewed here.

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