Prince Edward County’s first age-based immunization clinic for COVID-19 took place yesterday at the Community Centre in Picton.
“This past year has been trying and has required all of us to make sacrifices, both big and small. But today, we are seeing progress in the fight against COVID-19 as the vaccination program ramps up with the launch of age-based immunization clinics for individuals over the age of 80. That should give us all hope that better days lie ahead,” Mayor Steve Ferguson says.
Individuals aged 80 and older (born in 1941 and earlier) can book an appointment for the COVID-19 vaccine at Ontario.ca/bookvaccine. Online booking is encouraged. If you are unable to book online for yourself, please ask a friend or family member to book on your behalf. You will require your health card number.
If you are unable to book online, please call the Provincial Vaccine Booking Line at 1.888.999.6488. The line is available seven days a week between 8 am and 8 pm. Individuals who do not have a photo ID health card will be required to book by phone.
“I want to thank the staff members with Hastings Prince Edward Public Health, Quinte Health Care, the Prince Edward County Family Health Team, and the municipality. Their teamwork ensured that this clinic would be up and running and ready to serve the public as soon as the vaccine became available,” Mayor Ferguson says.
The next age-based immunization clinic for individuals aged 80 and older at the Prince Edward Community Centre is scheduled for Tuesday, March 23. Bookings for that clinic will be available on the provincial booking portal by March 17. Picton clinics from March 27-April 1 and April 5-7 are already available for booking on the portal.
Hastings Prince Edward region is currently in Phase 1 of the provincial COVID-19 vaccination plan. More than 12,500 vaccinations have been administered in the region as of March 15 to individuals in eligible priority groups including adults over 80 years old, seniors in congregate settings, health-care workers, adults in First Nations populations, and adult chronic home care recipients.
With supply of the vaccine stabilizing, HPEPH expects to move to Phase 2 in April. Adults aged 60 to 79 will be prioritized in Phase 2 in decreasing five-year increments (to 75, 70, 65, 60). Others to receive the vaccine in Phase 2 include those living in high-risk congregate settings (such as shelters, community living), individuals with high-risk chronic conditions and their caregivers, and those who cannot work from home, and at-risk populations.
Visit the HPEPH website for more information on the COVID-19 vaccination program.