Close to one-third of B.C. kids at two years of age, among the most vulnerable in our society, are not up to date with their immunizations.
A transformational $15 million gift from Save-On-Foods will establish Canada鈥檚 first storefront immunization clinic at BC Children鈥檚 Hospital and consultation services to physicians across the province.
Its goal: to improve immunization rates for all children, including those with complex medical conditions. The donation will also fund urgently needed medical equipment.
鈥淭he Save-On-Foods family has already donated over $30 million in funding innovative programs that profoundly affect the health and well-being of B.C. children,鈥� said Teri Nicholas, President & CEO, BC Children鈥檚 Hospital Foundation. 鈥漈his commitment brings their all-time giving to $45 million -- making Save-On-Foods our biggest donor of all time.鈥�
The new immunization clinic will be situated in Children鈥檚 Hospital鈥檚 busy ambulatory care building and open not only to patients, but all family members.
Last year, 86,000 children and youth were treated at BC Children鈥檚 鈥� counting their siblings and parents, the clinic has potential to provide thousands of immunizations annually when it opens to the public in the fall of 2017.
鈥淲e are striving for improved immunization rates for BC kids,鈥� said Leslie Arnold, executive leader of BC Children鈥檚 Hospital.鈥淭his clinic will be a safe, reliable and convenient place for families to come while at our hospital, as well as providing province-wide leadership to community health providers.鈥�
Save-On-Foods鈥� gift will also create a fund for urgently-needed equipment.
鈥淭he Save-On-Foods team is passionate about our communities and it鈥檚 by supporting the tremendous efforts of the fine folks at BC Children鈥檚 Hospital that we鈥檙e able to help change lives across this province,鈥� said Save-On-Foods president Darrell Jones. 鈥淕iving back to BC Children鈥檚 Hospital is a natural fit for our company, and together with our teams, our customers, and our supplier partners, we鈥檙e helping ensure our future 鈥� the kids in communities across British Columbia 鈥� is bright.鈥�
