Fraser Health drop-in vaccine clinics drawing people from outside region
Posted April 27, 2021 8:05 pm.
Last Updated April 28, 2021 2:01 pm.
PORT COQUITLAM (NEWS 1130) — A Port Coquitlam man tells NEWS 1130 he waited more than four hours Tuesday to get the AstraZeneca vaccine at a Fraser Health drop-in clinic but was surrounded by people who don’t live in the neighbourhood that’s considered a COVID-19 hot zone.
While Health Minister Adrian Dix says the people running those clinics are supposed to be checking to make sure vaccines are only given to residents from specific postal codes, in Daniel Nikitiuk’s experience, that was not the case.
Nikitiuk says no one at the Poirier Forum clinic in Coquitlam asked him –or anyone else– for proof of where they live.
“There’s been nobody that has come and asked for postal codes. I thought they might be doing it on the check-in,” he says.
“I know people that can’t get off work to come and get a vaccine. And if they were to get here late, they wouldn’t get one because people ahead of them have already lined up,” Nikitiuk adds.
Other people have reached out to confirm no one asked them to show proof of where they live.
Related Article: Two Fraser Health COVID-19 vaccine clinics open to people aged 30+ on Tuesday
On Tuesday, Fraser Health set up two vaccine clinics for people over the age of 30 at the Cloverdale Recreation Centre in Surrey and at the Poirier Forum in Coquitlam.
“If there’s only 2,000 shots for the day, and this is a one-day event for ages 30+, then, of course, people are gonna miss out,” Nikitiuk adds.
People encouraged to get vaccinated were advised to check their postal code before showing up.
Fraser Health has not yet responded to NEWS 1130’s request for an explanation.
