Four Surrey recreation centres out of 11 have been chosen for mass vaccination sites as part of the largest immunization program in B.C.’s history, set to roll out between April and September.
The provincial government intends to make COVID-19 vaccinations available to 4.3 million people.
Surrey city council endorsed without debate Monday the Fraser Health Authority operating up to four mass vaccination sites in Surrey related to the pandemic, at the Clayton Recreation Centre, Cloverdale Recreation Centre, Guildford Recreation Centre and South Surrey Recreation and Arts Centre. Council authorized city staff to execute lease agreements for the four civic facilities.
A report by city manager Vincent Lalonde and Laurie Cavan, general manager of parks, recreation and culture notes the Cloverdale Arena, Cloverdale Curling Club, Newton Arena, Newton Recreation Centre, Fraser Heights Recreation Centre, Chuck Bailey Recreation Centre and North Surrey Sport & Ice Complex did not make the cut.
“Fraser Health has indicated they are seeking to utilize the Clayton Recreation Centre, Cloverdale Recreation Centre and South Surrey Recreation and Arts Centre locations as primary sites with Guildford Recreation Centre as a back-up location at this time,” the corporate report indicates.
“These four sites are in addition to the existing three testing and vaccination sites being utilized by Fraser Health.”
Fraser Health needs to deliver 37,500 doses each day between April and November and is planning a “soft launch” in March.
The Fraser Health Region has 1.8 million people eligible for vaccination and of those, 31 per cent live in Surrey.
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Meanwhile, the province is screening 70 per cent of test samples for variants – up from 15 per cent in January.
On Monday, deputy provincial health officer Dr. Reka Gustafson and Education Minister Jennifer Whiteside fielded questions from reporters, saying there is no evidence of transmission of variants in schools.
Of the 35 teachers so far tested for the variants, all have come back negative, Whiteside said.
Files from
Ashley Wadwhani