The push to vaccinate the youngest set yet of COVID-10 vaccination candidates seemingly has parents ready and more than willing to get the jabs for their children, though the launch to the program which officially started on Monday, has made for a fair bit of confusion and frustration from some in the community.
The roll out of the program was relayed through the Northern Health Facebook page that is dedicated to Prince Rupert themes, but by yesterday there seemed to be far more questions than answers for parents looking for the latest information, with a thread of commentary from yesterday providing a sample of the themes making for the days conversation.
Yesterday, Northern Health provided the Prince Rupert schedule for those vaccination sessions for children from 5-11 providing for six days of vaccinations before the Health Authority shuts down the vaccination program for the holidays.
The 5-11 program is listed as a drop in event with parents reminded to have Personal Health Numbers on hand. The immunization for children takes place at the Public Health Unit in the Ocean Centre Mall.
At yesterday's Provincial COVID information session, Health Minister Adrian Dix also outlined some of the challenges that the Ministry of Health has had in accessing vaccine for the program for children, noting of delays earlier in the week.
"With respect to the North, I'd say that people should know that the details of timing of vaccine arrivals which come directly to regions from the Federal, the Central Federal depot were quite uncertain last week. And that vaccines in the North were late arriving and this did and has affected the early appointments. Once the vaccines arrive in a Health Authority ... the vaccine has to be unpacked divided up, repacked and placed on trucks for distribution far and wide to communities across the Health Authority. This takes significant time and has to align with very particular chain requriements" -- Health Minister Adrian Dix
Mr. Dix further noted that in the Northern Health region there is a practice of delay of the start of clinics to allow for any supply chain disruptions and to ensure that there is a supply of vaccine for every clinic.
Both officials observed that there is a plan towards delivery and vaccination opportunities.
They also outlined that in the near future, pharmacies across the province will become more involved in the distribution of the COVID booster campaign soon to get underway in a more expanded fashion.
The full scope of all the vaccination programs through Northern Health in Prince Rupert up until they take a pause as of December 20th can be reviewed below:
You can access information for all of the vaccination clinics across the region here.
More notes on Health Care in the Northwest can be explored from our archive page.
Cross posted from the North Coast Review.
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