Booking COVID-19 vaccine appointments are being done largely in two different ways depending on one’s age eligibility.
Those 71 years and older can register online or by phone starting Tuesday, while those aged 55-65 have to go through a local pharmacy.
And starting Tuesday (April 6), a provincial online system for COVID-19 vaccines will be available at gov.bc.ca/getvaccinated.
Up until now, appointments in Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) were only being booked by phone, while Fraser Health had an online booking system already from the start.
This provincial system will allow anyone born in 1950 or earlier, Indigenous people 18 and older and those deemed “clinically extremely vulnerable” to register to book their vaccines.
In the meantime, however, those who are eligible to get the AstraZeneca vaccine – B.C. residents ages 55 to 65 - have to go through local pharmacies, navigating the system set up by each pharmacy.
There are 25 Richmond pharmacies listed as designated to administer the AstraZeneca vaccine - last week there were only three.
While pharmacies in Richmond quickly filled appointments last week with the first batch of AstraZeneca expiring on Saturday, about 180,000 doses arrived late last week and Health Minister Adrian Dix said more were on the way.
Register, then book COVID-19 appointment
The online provincial system first asks people to register to get the vaccine – the system will give a confirmation code.
Then an email, text or phone call will inform people they are eligible to book the vaccine, based on their age.
Alternatively, B.C. residents can phone the provincial call centre toll-free at 1-833-838-2323 or visit the closest Service BC.
To date, nearly 770,000 eligible British Columbians have received their first dose of vaccine, and more than 87,000 have received their second dose.
If B.C.’s vaccine supply is delivered as scheduled, everyone in B.C. who is eligible for the vaccine will receive their first dose by the end of June, according to the provincial government.
Richmond pharmacies offering AstraZeneca vaccine
Ackroyd Pharmacy, #160 – 8100 Ackroyd Rd.
BioScript Pharmacy Ltd., #180 – 13151 Vanier Pl.
C.R.C. Drugs, 1008 – 8181 Cambie Rd.
Continental Pharmacy, Unit 1196 – 3779 Sexsmith Rd.
Costco Pharmacy #054, 9151 Bridgeport Rd.
HealthPlus Pharmacy***, 4115 No. 5 Rd.
Loblaw Pharmacy #1557, 4651 No. 3 Rd.
McCue Pharmacy, #100 – 8120 Cook Rd.
Minoru Pharmacy, #102 – 7380 Westminster Hwy.
Park Pacific Pharmacy, #2260 – 3700 No. 3 Rd.
Pharmasave #022, #1103-8, 3880 Grant McConachie Way
Pharmasave Health Centre #038, #116 – 10151 No. 3 Rd.
Pharmasave Steveston Village, Unit 105 – 12420 No. 1 Rd.
PriceSmart Foods Pharmacy #2274, 8200 Ackroyd Rd.
Regency Medicine Centre, Suite #100, 6091 Gilbert Rd.
Save-On-Foods Pharmacy #2252, 120-12088 3rd Ave.
Save-On-Foods Pharmacy #969 – Ironwood, Suite 3000 – 11666 Steveston Hwy.
Save-On-Foods Pharmacy #971 – Terra Nova, 3673 Westminster Hwy.
Shoppers Drug Mart #0228, Suite 380 – 9100 Blundell Rd.
Shoppers Drug Mart #0237, 2286 – 6060 Minoru Blvd.
Shoppers Drug Mart #2109, #100 – 7820 Williams Rd.
Shoppers Drug Mart #2237, 11800 Cambie Rd.
Super Grocer & Pharmacy, 12051 No. 1 Rd.
Wal-Mart Pharmacy #3652, 9251 Alderbridge Way
Wellness Pharmacy No. 4, #115 – 6180 Blundell Rd.
- with files from Kirsten Clarke
