After Sun Peaks was initially left off a list for rural vaccine clinics that would administered second doses, it appears Interior Health has reversed its decision.

From the outset, Interior Health had said every rural community that had a first-dose clinic would be getting a second-dose clinic. But staff later said they would be telling people in Sun Peaks to drive to Barriere or Kamloops for a second dose.

But mayor Al Raine says the village will, in fact, now be getting a second dose clinic, which will be set up sometime in July.

He says he was informed this afternoon on the change, after having brought up concerns to Interior Health last weekend.

“I certainly made the argument that 700 people who were vaccinated for a first dose in Sun Peaks, means probably at least 500 trips to Kamloops. As opposed to having a clinic here for a couple of days,” Raine tells NL News.

“Some of the younger people here don’t have vehicles, and they rely on somebody else. And if you have to take time off work or have appointments at an awkward time, it would just be very difficult.

“(Interior Health) has made it pretty clear that they wanted to get as many people vaccinated as possible and make it as easy as possible. And I just asked them if they could reflect on their decision and they said they would.”

Sun Peaks had its first dose clinic from May 4-7.

Raine says about 400-500 other residents drove to Kamloops or Barriere for a first vaccine dose before the May clinic, saying many of those residents were people who are retired and were eligible to get a first dose beforehand.