The "vax van" will spend three days in Nanaimo trying to shift the areas lagging vaccine rates. (submitted photo/Island Health)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

MOBILE SHOTS

Island Health conducting three-day ‘vax van’ tour through Nanaimo

Jul 22, 2021 | 3:52 PM

NANAIMO — A mobile vaccination clinic will spend three days in the greater Nanaimo region providing first shots of approved COVID-19 vaccines.

The “vax van” will be parked at Maffeo Sutton Park on Sunday, July 25 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. It will also be in the parking lot by Country Grocer in Chase River from 2 p.m to 5 p.m. on Monday, July 26 and Westwood Lake at the same times on Tuesday, July 27.

Island Health medical health officer Dr. Mike Benusic said uptake of the vaccine across Vancouver Island was strong, however the van is designed to reach those who are yet to receive their first dose.

“There’s some people who might be on the fence who might not want to register, book and show up at an immunization site, but if they see the ‘vax van’ and they know they can walk in for a dose, maybe they’ll get one.”

Benusic said pockets of the greater Nanaimo and Cowichan areas had shown a little more hesitancy to receive the vaccine than the rest of Island Health.

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Around 80 per cent of eligible people aged 12 and up in the Oceanside region have received at least one dose, with a vaccination rate of 79 per cent in the greater Nanaimo area.

The “vax van” is only for people who have not received a first dose of vaccine. Second doses are currently being exclusively offered through mass clinics.

The idea of a mobile van clinic was adopted from a similar initiative in Interior Health and is part of a growing strategy to bring the vaccine to more people, instead of having those interested come to the vaccine.

A recent pop-up clinic at Woodgrove Centre was immensely successful according to the health authority.

“There are people who are ambivalent about vaccination and if it’s in front of them, they’ll take it but if not, they’re not going to. We saw people coming through of all ages at Woodgrove Centre.

Only mRNA vaccines, Pfizer or Moderna, will be available. Those aged 12 to 17 will be offered Pfizer exclusively while the remainder of visitors will receive what is on hand.

Around 60 per cent of people aged 12 to 17 have already received a first dose.

The van will also make stops in Duncan, Port Alberni and the Comox Valley over the next three weeks.

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