B.C. hosts ‘Walk-in Wednesday’ at vaccine clinics as COVID-19 cases rise

Editor’s note: An earlier version incorrectly stated 82.3 per cent of British Columbians are fully vaccinated. 

SURREY (NEWS 1130) — A push to get every last British Columbian their shot will get underway Wednesday.

The first ever “Walk-in Wednesday” is being held at clinics across the province, in hopes of raising the provincial vaccination rate.

Currently, 82.3 per cent of the province has received one shot, and 69.7 per cent have received two shots, but COVID-19 cases have spiked in recent weeks.

“Wherever you are in B.C., [Wednesday] is your day,” B.C.’s provincial health officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry said.

“It’s more important than ever that all of us get immunized right now. Do it for yourself, do it for those you love, and do it for everyone in B.C. so we can get through this pandemic,” Henry added that people can get their first and second dose in these clinics.

The number of British Columbians hospitalized with the illness has risen from 47 to 53. Of those patients, 19 are in the ICU compared to 16 on Friday.

Among the areas of concern, the Interior Health region, which has recorded more than 50 per cent of the new cases reported over the long weekend.

A COVID-19 outbreak has been declared in the Central Okanagan, which includes Kelowna, due to a surge of cases in the area. People who are unvaccinated are advised to avoid travelling there.

Watch: Walk-in vaccine clinics open across B.C. on Wednesday

Henry says the province is aware that wildfire evacuations have made it more challenging for people to get their shots, but in order to stop the spread, people should not hesitate any longer.

SFU mathematician Paul Tupper is watching the COVID-19 cases closely.

“Based on the data we do have, it appears the growth in cases that have been ticking up lately are due to the Delta variant being much more transmissible,” Tupper said.

He explains that the variant is so contagious that instead of three people getting infected, four or five get infected.

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UBC zoology professor Sally Otto says Delta is the most common strain of the virus in the province, and it’s only getting worse.

“That estimate of growth for Delta is that it’s doubling every seven to 10 days in British Columbia,” Otto said.

Find a walk-in clinic near you:

Fraser Health

• Abbotsford Abbotsford Ag Rec, 32470 Haida Drive
• Burnaby Christine Sinclair Community Centre, 3713 Kensington Avenue
• Chilliwack Chilliwack Mall, 45610 Luckakuck Way
• Coquitlam Poirier Forum, 618 Poirier Street
• Delta Centennial Beach at Boundary Bay, 541 Centennial Pkwy
• Delta North Delta Recreation Centre, 11415 84 Avenue
• Langley Langley Events Centre, 7888 200 Street
• Maple Ridge Haney Place Mall, 11900 Haney Place, Unit 21
• New Westminster Anvil Centre, 777 Columbia Street
• Surrey Cloverdale Recreation Centre, 6188 176 Street
• Surrey Guildford Recreation Centre, 15105 105 Avenue
• Surrey South Surrey Recreation Centre, 14601 20 Avenue
• Surrey North, 10025 King George Boulevard

Vancouver Coastal Health

• Gibsons Royal Canadian Legion Branch 109, 747 Gibsons Way
• North Vancouver ICBC Claim Centre, 255 Lloyd Avenue
• Powell River Powell River Recreation Complex, 5001 Joyce Avenue
• Richmond Kwantlen Polytechnic University, 8771 Lansdowne Road
• Richmond Richmond Night Market, 8351 River Road
• Squamish Brennan Park Recreation Centre, 1009 Centennial Way
• Vancouver Vancouver Convention Centre East Building, 999 Canada Place
• Vancouver Italian Cultural Centre, 3075 Slocan Street
• Kerrisdale Community Centre – Seniors Centre
• Whistler Conference Centre, 4010 Whistler Way

Interior Health

• Creston Creston Valley Library, 531 16th Ave S. Drop-in clinic August 4, 10 am to 3 pm
• Kamloops Tournament Capital Centre Drop-in clinic, live music, therapy dogs, smoothie coupons for first 100 people August 4, 9 am to 4 pm
• Kelowna Downtown: Kelowna Yacht Club, 1370 Water St
• Kelowna Trinity Hall: 1905 Springfield Road
• Kelowna Rutland Secondary School, 705 Rutland Road
• Sun Peaks Sun Peaks Centre, 3200 Village Way
• West Kelowna Westbank Lions Community Centre, 2466 Main St.

Island Health

August 4th is Walk-in Wednesday!
All #IslandHealth #COVID19 immunization clinics are offering 1st & 2nd vaccine doses – no appt or registration!
Dose 1: All those ages 12+
Dose 2: Those vaccinated BEFORE June 16
Clinic locations: https://t.co/QgXWIGvOeT #VaxxedtotheMax #VaxforBC pic.twitter.com/RoT87yTvTJ

— Island Health (@VanIslandHealth) August 3, 2021

• Cumberland Village Square, 2673 Dunsmuir Avenue
• Campbell River Community Centre, 401 11 Ave
• Courtenay Florence Filberg Centre, 411 Anderton Ave
• Courtenay 2488 Idiens Way
• Duncan Cowichan Community Centre Gym, 2687 James St
• Nanaimo Beban Park, 2300 Bowen Road
• Nanaimo Cedar Community Centre, 2388 Cedar Rd, Nanaimo
• Parksville Community Centre, 132 Jensen Ave E, Parksville
• Port Alberni Alberni Athletic Hall, 3727 Roger Street
• Port Alice Health Unit, 1090 Marine Drive
• Port Hardy Health Unit 7070 Market St Port Hardy
• Port McNeill Port McNeill Health Unit 1775 Furney Pl, Port McNeill
• Qualicum Beach Civic Centre 747 Jones St, Qualicum Beach
• Salt Spring Island ArtSpring Centre 100 Jackson Avenue
• Sidney Mary Winspear Centre 2243 Beacon Avenue
• Sooke SEAPARC Leisure Complex 2168 Phillips Road
• Tofino Tofino Public Health Unit 265 First Street
• Victoria Native Friendship Centre 231 Regina Avenue
• Victoria Eagle Ridge Arena 1089 Langford Pkwy
• Victoria Conference Centre 720 Douglas Street
• Esquimalt Archie Browning Sports Centre, 1151 Esquimalt Rd

Northern Health

• Dawson Creek and area Ovintiv Events Centre, CO-OP Mercer Hall, #1 300 Highway 2
• Fort St. John and area Totem Mall, Old Marks Work Wearhouse, 9600 93 Avenue
• Tumbler Ridge and area Tumbler Ridge Medical Clinic, 220 Front Street

With files from Denise Wong and The Canadian Press