COVID-19 Vaccine

Covid-19 Boosters are now available

Register for your Covid-19 Vaccine here or Booster here

You can now book your Covid-19 booster and your flu shot for the same visit!

You can also book over the phone at 1-833-838-2323

Why should I get the Covid-19 Vaccine or Booster?

Vaccines do more than protect you from COVID-19, they also protect everyone around you. The more people in a community who are immunized against COVID-19, the harder it is for the virus to spread. Vaccines approved in Canada have followed the same extensive testing as every other vaccine, and are proven to be effective in reducing virus transmission and severity of symptoms in people who do get the virus. Due to the steady emergence of new strains of Covid-19, the original 2 doses of the vaccine are no longer adequate to provide protection against the virus. Receiving the boosters will help ensure that you and your community remain safe.

More information:

• What to expect when you get a COVID vaccine – click here

• For the latest information on the provincial distribution of COVID-19 vaccine, please check the BC Government’s COVID-19 Vaccine Page

• Read Frequently Asked Questions on the Doctors of BC website.

Flu season is here, get your flu shot!

This year it is more important than ever to get the flu shot, as flu symptoms and COVID-19 symptoms present very similarly. Our office only received a small supply of vaccine and therefore will only be offering them to our Family Practice patients with risk factors. Please call our office if you believe this applies to you.

You can find flu shot clinics using the Immunize BC Clinic Finder.

• Check your eligibility for a flu shot

If you have questions about the flu vaccine, please contact our office at (604) 461-0016.

Isolation Practices

Click these to view the BC CDC instructions on Isolation Practices

• If you have COVID 19 or any respiratory symptoms
• If you have been travelling out of the country in the last 14 days
• If you are caring for someone with COVID 10 or any respiratory symptoms

COVID testing

• COVID-19 testing is now recommended for patients with cold, influenza or COVID-19-like symptoms, however mild. Symptoms may include: fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, odynophagia (painful swallowing), rhinorrhea (runny nose), nasal congestion (stuffy nose), loss of sense of smell, headache, muscle aches, fatigue, or loss of appetite.
• After speaking with the doctor, if we determine testing is needed, we will help direct you to where to get testing. Testing information and locations can be found on this page.

Social Distancing

• The most effective way to contain this virus is by limiting our public interactions. Please follow the latest recommendations from the CDC to guide you.

Dealing with Stress & Anxiety in COIVD-19

• Find self-management tools on the Fraser Northwest Division website to help you navigate stress and anxiety during this difficult time
• If you are feeling stress, anxiety, or just the need to talk to someone you can book a free appointment with a clinical counsellor.
• You can also find a video that shows how to overcome a fear of face masks here

Talking to your kids

• Not sure how to talk to your kids about COVID? Click here for a helpful approach.
• Dealing with stress and anxiety in your family due to the pandemic? Click here for a helpful guide.
• Watch a video on the Fraser Northwest Division website on preparing children for a COVID-19 test

Back to School and COVID

It is inevitable that as the school year progresses, children will show symptoms of cold, flu, or other illness. During this pandemic, parents will be asking themselves:

• What should I do if my child gets sick?
• When should we test for COVID-19?
• Should my child stay home? and for how long?
• When do we need a doctor’s note?

To help with these questions and others, we are sharing documents created by Doctors of BC that will help with effective decision-making both for parents and physicians.

“How to decide what to do when your child is ill” decision-making tool can be found here.

A chart to whether a doctor’s note is required can be found here.

September 29th update:

With the new Student Daily Health Check (School District 43 used as an example) we know things just got MORE confusing. Here is a quick summary to simplify it:

• If your child has symptoms noted on the student checklist they probably need COVID testing. You can arrange this directly through a testing site.
• Help prepare you child for testing. There are two options
  
  • Nasal swab – video
  • Gargle test – video (we suggest you have your child practice at home first)
• If your child just has a sore throat or runny nose the student checklist notes that they can still go to school. You may still wish to have them tested. You can arrange this at a testing site.
• If you are still confused, you can book a virtual appointment with us to discuss further.

Work Notes

• As per instructions from the Minister of Health and the provincial Medical Officer of Health, we will not be providing notes for work absence due to COVID related concerns.  Click here for details.

Pregnant and delivering at RCH

If you are pregnant, you may be wondering how your experience at RCH may be effected. Please read here for details. If you happen to have COVID at the time of your delivery, please read here for information.

COVID Guides from a team of researchers and medical students at UBC

• Etiquette, social distance and activities outdoors
• Car sharing
• Safety inside the home
• Shoppers
• Apartment living
• Food
• Communication and social distance
• Parenting
• Wearing a mask (video link)

Also, please check our website for updates and advice.

Office Protocols & General COVID-19 Information

• The symptoms of COVID-19, are similar to other respiratory illnesses and include a dry cough, fever, tiredness and may involve difficulty breathing.

• If you are having trouble breathing or are extremely unwell, and cannot wait for a phone appointment, you should seek emergency health services at a hospital or urgent care centre or calling 911
• If you think you may have COVID 19 we can help, but please do not come in person to the clinic sick – you will be asked to leave and call us to arrange the best way to be assessed.
• First, if you have concerns about COVID and think you may need to speak to a health care professional, please first complete this assessment to help guide the best way to access care: http://covid19tool.com
• If you are still unsure if what you need to do, call to book a virtual appointment with your doctor. We will arrange an in-person assessment and testing if needed
• If you require COVID testing you can get tested at a location near you (click here to view test-site locations) Please arrange an appointment with us for for a referral. You can contact a testing site directly for pre-flight COVID testing for essential travel.

If you do come to the office

• Bring Your Own Toys (BYOT) and Reading Material – there are none in the clinic at this time to prevent transmission.
• Limit time spent in the waiting room – Consider waiting in your car and calling us when you arrive.
• Use Hand Sanitizer –As you enter the clinic and as you move around the clinic.
• Bring a Pen or Pencil – to record your weight and blood pressure or other information.
• Please do not bring other individuals to your appointments unless this is absolutely necessary.
• If your situation changes prior to a planned in person appointment and you are experiencing cough/fever/respiratory symptoms PLEASE CALL before coming into the clinic so we can make arrangements.