Vancouver clinic providing third COVID-19 dose to travellers with mixed vaccines
Global News
Only those who are clinically extremely vulnerable or who have waited more than eight months since a second shot are eligible for a third dose.
On the day the B.C. government rolled out its plan to administer third doses of COVID-19 vaccine, come reports that some people have jumped the line.
Only those who are clinically extremely vulnerable or who have waited more than eight months since a second shot are eligible for a third dose.
But multiple people have told Global News that they received a third dose at the Vancouver Coastal Health Travel Clinic.
Dr. Penny Ballem, the provincial lead for the vaccine rollout, says the clinic can provide third doses to those travelling but only on compassion or essential grounds.
“We knew as soon as we let it out, it would be on social media and people would come. The minister and Dr. Henry were clear, we were not providing third doses for travel,” Ballem said.
“We were very, very clear, we were not providing to those who wanted to travel for fun. It was for compassionate reasons or essential work reasons.”
But travellers Global News spoke to said they were not required to provide additional documentation to demonstrate travel.
The province says the clinics provided “very few” vaccines although none of the health authorities were required to report back to Ballem on how many third shots were administered.