COVID19 Frequently Asked Questions (COVID19 FAQ)
COVID Vaccination Information
1.) When can I get my COVID19 vaccination?
Please note that the information surrounding COVID-19 vaccination is constantly being updated as new developments come up. Please check the BCCDC website and BC provincial government COVID-19 vaccination site for up-to-date details. There is also a detailed COVID-19 vaccination FAQ website on the provincial ImmunizeBC website.
The provincial COVID-19 immunization plan started its Phase 1 of vaccinations in December 2020. BC is currently in Phase 2 of COVID19 vaccinations. Seniors age 75 and over, as well as Indigenous people age 65 and over are able to call for vaccination appointments. You can call the provincial call centre, or call our office for assistance with booking your appointment. The age-based roll-out of vaccinations is being constantly updated. Please check the websites below (under COVID19 vaccination resources) for the most updated information.
The vaccination schedule has been accelerated as a result of additional vaccine supply being available. The priority sequence for front-line essential workers has also been adjusted based on the availability of additional vaccines and doses. If you are a front-line priority worker, do not call your local health authority. These vaccine appointments will be organized by employers directly, within each sector.
People deemed clinically extremely vulnerable.
If you are deemed “clinically extremely vulnerable” (CEV), you will be receiving a patient invitation letter allowing you to book your vaccine appointment through the provincial call centre starting on March 29 at 12 p.m. Do NOT call prior to this date. Patient letters should arrive by April 15. Please check the Provincial website to determine if you are eligible: gov.bc.ca/cevCOVID. You must have received a letter in order to book as a clinically extremely vulnerable patient. Please do NOT call or email the office to check to see if you are eligible. If you believe you are in the CEV group but have not received a letter by April 15, 2021, you can contact the provincial call centre to confirm if you are on the CEV list. If you are NOT on the CEV list, you can call our office to book an appointment with your family physician to discuss your eligibility.
The availability and eligibility of COVID19 vaccination for children and youth under age 18 has not yet been determined.
2.) How do I book for my COVID19 vaccination?
Seniors age 75 and over, as well as Indigenous people age 65+ can now book for their COVID19 vaccinations. Please call our office at 604-559-9933 to book your COVID19 vaccination. Our office staff can help you book your vaccine appointment. You do not need to call the Provincial call centre. However, it is recommended that you check out the website for detailed information about what to expect at the vaccination clinic (https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/covid-19/vaccine/seniors). It is anticipated that the Provincial online booking system should be launched on April 6, 2021.
The registration system for adults under age 80 has not yet been launched.
3.) Where do I go for my COVID19 vaccination?
When you book for your COVID19 vaccination, details will be provided as to the time and location of your appointment, which will be located at a local community vaccination site. The community vaccination clinics will be run by public health, and staffed with trained vaccinators. At this time, we will NOT be providing any COVID-19 vaccinations on-site at our clinic.
4.) COVID19 Vaccination Resources:
BC’s COVID19 immunization plan
BCCDC COVID19 vaccine information
ImmunizeBC COVID19 vaccination Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
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General COVID19 FAQ
1.) What are the symptoms of COVID19?
COVID-19 can show up with a variety of different symptoms, which can vary in severity from mild to very severe. Key symptoms of COVID-19 include: fever and/or chills, cough (or worsening of chronic cough), shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, and loss of sense of smell or taste. Other common symptoms include: sore throat, headache, fatigue, diarrhea, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, and body aches/muscle aches. Less common symptoms include: stuffy nose (nasal congestion), conjunctivitis (pink eye), dizziness, confusion, abdominal pain, skin rash or discolouration of fingers or toes. Some symptoms can also be signs of other conditions. If you are unsure, contact your health care provider or call 8-1-1
If someone is having severe difficulty breathing, severe chest pain, having a hard time waking up, feeling confused or losing consciousness, you should seek emergency medical care by calling 9-1-1 or going to your nearest emergency department.
2.) Will the office remain open if there are further closures throughout the city?
Yes, our office is open for in-person visits if required; however, the provision of services will look different than our normal operations. Our physicians are providing a combination of virtual care (telephone and video visits) and in-person care. All new appointments will typically be booked as telemedicine visits conducted as video or phone conferences with your family doctor. After your telemedicine visit, if your doctor needs to see you in-person, your doctor will book an in-office visit with you. During this time, your doctor may have different clinic hours than usual. You may be asked if you are willing to see another physician within the clinic.
3.) Is it safe for me to come into the clinic for an in-person visit?
Yes, it is safe to come into the clinic if you require an in-person visit. We are following public health guidelines to the best of our ability. We are screening our patients ahead of time to minimize the risk to our patients. We have increased our frequency of cleaning for high-touch surfaces, and exam rooms in between patients. We are using personal protective equipment (PPE) following the current public health guidelines.
If you are pre-booked for an in-office visit, you must notify our administrative staff by phone before your visit if you or someone in your household is experiencing cough/fever/respiratory symptoms, or if you are under self-isolation or quarantine orders. If so, do not come into the clinic. The staff will book you for a video or phone visit instead, and your in-office visit will be rebooked. There will be no fee charged by the clinic for late cancellations in the above scenario.
Please note that medical masks are mandatory in all medical offices and healthcare settings. If you do not have a medical mask, our staff will provide you with a medical mask upon your arrival at the office.
4.) What if I need to see a doctor urgently?
If it is a true emergency, call 9-1-1 immediately. If you are needing emergency care specifically relating to potential severe COVID19 infection, please inform the first responders (ambulance workers) so they can be adequately protected to prevent further spread of infection. If the matter is urgent, but not requiring immediate hospital assistance (i.e. bladder infection, laceration with controlled bleeding, acute mild to moderate unexplained pain, etc) please CALL our office first, to speak with a staff member who can get a physician to contact you, if at all possible. We will try our best to accommodate as many patients as quickly as possible, either with your own physician, or with another physician at our clinic.
5.) What is the office procedure for in-office appointments?
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- Please do not come into the clinic without a pre-booked appointment. We need to be able to adequately prepare to treat you and keep everyone else safe.
- Patients are to come on their own, except if required for medical assistance or out of necessity (i.e. translation, mobility concerns, or a parent of a young child). We want to minimize the number of individuals in the office.
- When you arrive at the clinic, please stay in your car or wait outside, and call the office to notify the staff that you have arrived. Our staff will direct you into the office if the examination room is readily available, otherwise, they will call you back when the examination room is ready.
- Medical masks are mandatory for all patients and visitors to the office, aged 2 and up, for the safety and protection of all our patients and staff. If you do not have a medical mask, our staff will provide you with one upon your arrival at the office.
- Please use hand sanitizer as you enter the clinic and wash your hands frequently.
6.) Is the clinic offering flu shots this year?
Yes, the 2020/2021 flu shot is still available at Centro. Our clinic can provide flu vaccinations to any of our family practice patients who are eligible for flu vaccination. Please note that all patients must be pre-booked for their flu shot appointments. You must not come into the clinic if you have any symptoms of COVID-19, even if your symptoms are mild. Although flu shots are recommended for everyone, not everyone is eligible for an MSP-funded (free) flu vaccination. We currently do not have any flu shots available for private pay at this time.
To learn more about Influenza and eligibility for flu vaccines, please review the Healthlink BC document on Influenza (flu) Vaccine, and HealthLinkBC FAQ on Influenza. Our clinic is NOT offering COVID-19 vaccinations – they will be done in community vaccination sites run by public health.
7.) What do I do if I have contact or potential contact with someone infected with COVID19?
If you have known or potential contact with someone infected with COVID19, and you are unsure of what to do, please self-isolate right away. Call our office to book an appointment with your physician to discuss further if you have questions. Monitor yourself for the development of fever, cough, and flu-like symptoms. If you develop symptoms at any time, please self-refer to a COVID testing facility. You can also call our office to book an appointment with your physician, or call public health at 8-1-1 for further instructions, or if you have further questions. If you have been contacted by Public Health as a high-risk contact of a confirmed case of COVID19, they will give you appropriate instructions if you are required to self-isolate. For more information on self-isolation, please go to the BCCDC Self-isolation website.
8.) Can I see a doctor if I have travelled outside of Canada in the last 14 days?
All travellers arriving in BC from outside of Canada are required by law to self-isolate for 14 days upon arrival. You must monitor yourself for symptoms of fever, cough, cold or flu-like symptoms (fatigue, sore throat, etc) for 14 days after travel. If you develop any COVID19 symptoms, you should get tested at a COVID19 testing facility. Please visit the BCCDC website for COVID testing information. If you are unsure if you should get tested, or have any other health concerns during your period of self-isolation, you can contact our office to book a virtual visit with your physician. If you have a medical emergency requiring urgent medical attention, you must call 9-1-1 for emergency care, and inform them that you have recently travelled, so that the first responders can take appropriate protective measures.
9.) Can I see a doctor if I have fever, cough, cold-like or flu-like symptoms?
Any patient who has symptoms of COVID19 infection should self-refer to a COVID testing facility for testing. You can also contact our office to discuss with your family physician regarding accessing the appropriate testing; please do not simply show up at the office. Please visit the BCCDC website for COVID testing information. If your symptoms are severe, regardless of whether or not you have been tested, you should seek emergency medical care by calling 9-1-1 or going to your nearest emergency department.
10.) What do I do if my child gets sick?
Parents and caregivers should assess their child daily for key symptoms of illness before sending them to school: fever, chills, cough or worsening of chronic cough, shortness of breath, loss of sense of smell or taste. If your child has any of these symptoms they should get COVID testing done, and stay home.
If they have other symptoms 2 or more symptoms of sore throat, loss of appetite, headache, body aches, fatigue, nausea or vomiting, or diarrhea that persists for more than 24 hours, they should get tested, and stay home.
Please see the BCCDC website for COVID19 testing for Children and Youth.
When a COVID-19 test is recommended by the health assessment:
- If the COVID-19 test is positive, your child should stay home until you are told by public health to end self-isolation. Public health will contact everyone with a positive test.
- If the COVID-19 test is negative, your child may return to school once symptoms have improved and feels well enough. Symptoms of common respiratory illnesses can often persist for a week or more. Re-testing is not needed unless your child develops a new illness.
- If a COVID-19 test is recommended but is not done because you choose not to have the test, or you do not seek a health assessment when recommended, your child should stay home from school until 10 days after the onset of symptoms, and then (after 10 days) may return if the symptoms have improved.
If a COVID-19 test is not recommended by the health assessment, your child may return to school when symptoms improve and your child feels well enough. Testing may not be recommended if the assessment determines that the symptoms are due to another cause (i.e. not COVID-19). A health-care provider note (i.e. a doctor’s note) should not be required by the school to confirm the health status of any individual.
11.) Where can I get a COVID19 swab?
COVID19 testing is available and recommended for anyone presenting with symptoms of COVID19. Please visit the BCCDC website for COVID testing information.
12.) I got a COVID19 swab and am waiting for results. What should I do?
Please self-isolate until you have received your swab result. Public health will notify you once your result has come in. Please be patient. With the rapid rise in the volume of testing, there may be a delay in the reporting of results; however, most results within the Lower Mainland have been available within 48 hours of testing.
13.) What if I need prescription refills and I do not want to come in?
Please call the office and inform the front staff. Your physician may be able to coordinate a telehealth visit, renew your medications, and send a prescription to your pharmacy. There are also some pharmacies which may do deliveries. Please try to call or book an appointment at least 1 to 2 weeks before your medication runs out. If you need an emergency 1 to 2 week supply of your medications to last until your appointment with your physician, please ask your pharmacist.
14.) What happens with my referrals to specialists during this time?
Referrals to specialists will be put through as necessary, as determined by your physician. Many specialists are offering virtual visits for patients who may be able to be assessed virtually. Specialists will also see patients in-person for assessments as needed. Their waitlists may potentially be longer than usual, as many specialists may be catching up from the disruption to clinical services earlier on in the pandemic, or they may be operating at a lesser capacity due to physical distancing, occupancy limits, and infection control measures being implemented in their offices.
15.) What happens with my office appointment with the specialists during this time?
Your specialist appointment may be conducted as an in-office visit, or may be conducted as a telehealth visit (telephone or video visit). Please wait for direction from your specialist’s office regarding the status of the appointment.
16.) Family Practice patients only – What can I do if I try to book on-line, but there are no available appointment slots?
Please note that not all appointment slots are available for on-line bookings. Please call the office and speak with a staff member, particularly for same-day visits, and we will try our best to accommodate urgent concerns.
17.) Surgical patients only – What will happen with my upcoming surgery/colonoscopy?
Elective endoscopic and surgical procedures have resumed, with added screening for all patients prior to entering the hospital, and infection control precautions while in the hospital. A standardized set of screening questions will be asked to ensure that the patients are safe and eligible to proceed to their procedures. Hospitals have reviewed operating-room capacity and the COVID situation to ensure that it is safe to continue to perform elective procedures. We will endeavor to try to provide as much notice as possible regarding changes to the hospital schedule.
18.) Where can I get more COVID19 information? Please see the resources section below.
1.) BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC): https://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19
2. Emergency Wait Room Times: https://www.edwaittimes.ca/WaitTimes.aspx
3. COVID Testing Site Wait Times: http://www.edwaittimes.ca/COVIDTestingWaitTime.aspx
4. Document Regarding Sick Notes During COVID-19: BCCDC COVID-19 Employer Sick Note
5. Information Regarding What to do if Your Child Becomes Ill: https://www.doctorsofbc.ca/news/what-do-if-your-child-becomes-ill-guide-parents-and-family-doctors
6. Public Health Guidance for K-12 School settings (updated Feb 4, 2021): http://www.bccdc.ca/Health-Info-Site/Documents/COVID_public_guidance/Guidance-k-12-schools.pdf
7. BCCDC Information Regarding Social Interactions: http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/social-interactions
Clinic Email Usage
Please note that we may use email (with your consent) to send out documents to our patients, such as lab requisitions and doctor’s notes, etc. Please do not send emails to your physician and/or our front office staff to book appointments, cancel appointments, or to ask medical questions. Occasionally, your physician, or our front office staff may ask you to send us specific information needed for your appointment, such as photos of skin lesions. If you have a form to fill out, please call the office to inform the front staff, and you may be asked to send the form in advance of your appointment so that it is available for your physician at the time of your visit. Please call the office directly if you are requesting medical advice, or needing medication refills, or if you need to book/change/cancel an appointment.
Updated: March 24, 2021