Health Minister Adrian Dix said only 369 people in Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) – which Richmond belongs to - were able to book appointments for a COVID-19 vaccine Monday
This compares to Fraser Health, which has an online booking system and where 8,722 people were able to book an appointment to get their vaccines.
VCH includes Richmond, Vancouver, the North Shore and some coastal communities.
In a series of tweets, Dix said VCH had problems early Monday, but “we have been working with them throughout the day and will continue tomorrow to get their bookings back on track.”
On Monday, a total of 14,949 people booked appointments across the province.
This included 2,456 in Interior Health, 2,395 in Vancouver Island Health and 1,007 in Northern Health.
By 10 a.m. Monday, there had been more than a million calls to book appointments across the province although there are only about 54,000 people who are eligible and still unvaccinated (about 26,000 people in eligible groups have already been vaccinated).
Anyone born in the year 1931 or earlier as well as Indigenous people aged 65 and older can call 1-877-587-5767.
Appointments will be scheduled starting March 15.
When calling, seniors will need to give their first and last name, personal health number, date of birth, postal code and phone number.
Starting March 15, those born in 1936 and earlier can call to book a COVID-19 vaccination appointment for the following week.
Dix said in a press briefing Monday they’re hoping to have an online booking system for the whole province when Phase 3 starts on April 12.
