THUNDER BAY - More people across the province will be able to book a second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine sooner, while the Thunder Bay District Health Unit is looking to reach more people with pop-up clinics.
The provincial government announced on Friday that individuals over the age of 70, as well as those who received their first dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine on or before April 18, 2021, can book an earlier second dose starting Monday, June 7 through the provincial online booking system.
Individuals in the above noted groups who received a first dose through a pharmacy or primary care provider can book an accelerated second dose as of Friday.
For those who received their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine and are opting to receive either a second dose of AstraZeneca or a mRNA vaccine can now schedule a second dose appointment at pharmacies offering the vaccine.
The province said it will be receiving approximately 4.7 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine in June and an additional 3.54 million doses in July. It will also be receiving 193,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine.
In the Thunder Bay District, medical officer of health Dr. Janet DeMille said the vaccination rollout continues to do very well.
“Every week that goes by, even every day, the number of individuals in our area who have had a least one dose goes up,” she said. “And we are seeing an increase in the numbers of those with a second dose as well.”
As of last week, the Thunder Bay District has administered 104,078 vaccine doses, with 8,445 doses administered in the week ending on May 29. To date, 16,515 people have received a second dose.
DeMille said mass immunization clinics will continue, but in an effort to ensure everyone has access to the vaccine, the Thunder Bay District Health Unit is hosting a series of pop-up clinics in targeted neighbourhoods for anyone over the age of 12.
“Ideally we would want people to sign up,” she said. “But that just gives us a good idea of how many people are interested and how many people are coming. But we will be taking some walk-ins. We will not be discouraging walk-ins.”
The first clinic will be held in the Windsor/Picton/Blutcher Street area on June 14. Additional clinics will be held in Academy Trillium area on June 16, County Fair area at Our Lady of Charity School on June 21, McKellar Park School on June 24, and in the Westfort area on June 28.
According to DeMille, the health unit and partnering organizations are looking at opening walk-in clinics to the general public in the near future if supply allows.
“Right now, in terms of our vaccine supply, we do run mass immunization clinics, the hospital has a clinic and those appointments are really filling up and getting booked,” she said.
“We are trying to balance getting people in and managing our supply and at the same time removing barriers. What we’ve seen in other health units, when they have trouble filling spots, they often open it up to walk-in.”
For individuals who received the AstraZeneca vaccine as a first shot, approximately 2,000 in the Thunder Bay District, DeMille said the health unit is still awaiting more guidance from the province in the coming weeks on when doses will be provided.
“We are still waiting on some of the actual details,” she said. “Anyone who received a first dose of AstraZeneca will be able to have access to a second dose of AstraZeneca if they want. That will be available in the coming weeks.”
