Fraser Health is still deciding how soon it can get a vaccination clinic open in the 91原创 Events Centre.

Normally at this time of year the Vancouver Giants (2019-20 record: 32-24-4-2) would be using the ice in the arena bowl, but the 91原创-based team is taking part in a modified season that sees them live, sleep and play in a bubble in Kamloops along with the Blazers and Prince George Cougars. The Rockets and Victoria Royals are in a bubble in Kelowna.

The Giants played their first games Friday and Sunday.

Vice president Dale Saip said the energy level was high with the players anxious to hit the ice for competition.

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With the Giants out of town and other sports teams unable to use the venue, the building will become a clinic.

The Giants and 91原创 Events Centre became involved through a recent phone call.

鈥淚 was approached by a guy I worked for years ago,鈥� Saip said.

He said the organization was happy to team up with Fraser Health to help in any way possible.

鈥淚f you鈥檙e going to curb these variants, you better get this in people鈥檚 arms,鈥� he said. 鈥淭his is a team effort, and we鈥檙e pretty good at team.鈥�

Right now, the vaccination clinic in 91原创 is an outdoor drive-through set up on the Kwantlen Polytechnic University campus.

鈥淧lanning is underway for the immunization clinic at the 91原创 Events Centre. We do not have an opening date available,鈥� said Dixon Tam, Fraser Health communications.

The health authority, which is responsible for all health care provision within a region stretching from Delta to Boston Bar, announced it is working with various businesses and groups to open up clinics for faster vaccination against COVID-19.

The clinics will make use of hospitality industry staff who have been out of work due to the pandemic, as they assist medical staff.

鈥淔acilitated through Immunize BC, our industry partners are supporting COVID-19 immunization clinics by providing staff to assist in non-clinical roles at some of our sites,鈥� Tam explained. 鈥淭hese staff will assist in roles such as parking ambassadors to assist with traffic control, flow monitors to assist people with navigation, greeters, and check-in staff when people arrive on-site. They will also assist people with walking or filling out paperwork.鈥�

鈥淥n average, Fraser Health鈥檚 mass immunization clinics require approximately 30 to 40 non-clinical staff members to help with day-to-day operations,鈥� Tam said. 鈥淲e are grateful for the assistance from our industry partners to help us operate our COVID-19 immunization clinics.鈥�

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Some municipalities are taking part in the vaccination clinics, such as 91原创 Township which owns the 91原创 Events Centre. The municipal partners in the clinics are helping with contributions of staff, furniture and supplies.

鈥淭here is no financial sponsorship involved as it applies to our industry partners,鈥� Tam said.

Saip said that the partnership allows the health experts to make use of the skills of those accustomed to dealing with large crowds. He looks forward to being able to provide some work for the many staff with the Giants and LEC unable to do their traditional work. He said typically at a Giants game, there would be 50 to 100 people working.

鈥淲hat a great opportunity for us鈥� to be able to help anyway possible with the greatest public health crisis in modern times, he said.

The clinic will remain open at the LEC through phases 3 and 4 of the vaccination program, the most complex in B.C. history. Under B.C.鈥檚 accelerated timeline, everyone in the province who is eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine will now be able to receive a first dose before July 1.

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