Ottawa Public Health is boosting capacity at its COVID-19 vaccination clinics to accommodate a new crop of residents eligible for a third dose of the vaccine.
Following Ontario’s announcement earlier this week expanding eligibility criteria for a COVID-19 booster shot, the local health unit said Thursday that its four community clinics will operate seven days a week to handle the fresh demand.
The affected clinics are at the J.H. Putnam Public School, the Eva James Memorial Centre, the Orléans Ruddy Family YMCA-YWCA and the University of Ottawa’s Minto Sports Complex.
Starting Saturday at 8 a.m., appointments for booster doses will be available to any individual who meets the following criteria:
- Individuals aged 70 and over (born in 1951 or earlier);
- Health-care workers;
- Designated essential caregivers in congregate settings, long-term care homes or retirement homes
- Individuals who received a complete series of a viral vector vaccine (two doses of AstraZeneca or one dose of Johnson & Johnson); and
- First Nation, Inuit and Métis residents aged 16 and older, as well as their non-Indigenous household members.
Get weekly health news
Booster shot recipients also have to be six months removed from their last shot to qualify.
- Nearly 400 physicians interested in joining dual practice system: Alberta government
- U of T nurse practitioner student looks to break barriers in new Scarborough program
- 3 people died from suspected overdoses on Saturday in Regina: health ministry
- Work on track to open temporary Dauphin ER by Sept. 7: Manitoba government
Appointments can be booked via the online provincial portal or by calling 1-833-943-3900. Walk-in availability is limited, OPH says.
Some local pharmacies can also provide the shot, and The Ottawa Hospital is booting up its vaccination clinic for health-care workers and their families in the days ahead.
Getting a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine will not interfere with getting the annual flu shot — OPH says there’s no need to space out the two immunizations.
Comments
Want to discuss? Please read our Commenting Policy first.