Walk-in 2nd doses being offered in Waterloo region starting Thursday

Getting a first and second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine will get easier as of Thursday as all clinics run by the Region of Waterloo will accept walk-ins.

It's a change from the current procedure, which only allows walk-ins for first doses. People will still be able to book appointments, but the region says walk-ins will be accepted "as long as sufficient vaccine is available" at the individual clinics.

As of Tuesday's update, 80 per cent of people 12 and older have their first dose of the vaccine while nearly 60 per cent have both doses.

The number of people seeking out appointments has dropped, and the region has started to focus on other ways to reach people including a vaccination bus and drive-thru appointments at Bingemans. As well, some pharmacists in the region say they're ready to make house calls for people unable to get out to a clinic.

Shirley Hilton, deputy chief for the Waterloo Regional Police Service and head of the region's vaccine distribution task force, said the region is "pleased to be able to make it easier for residents to complete their vaccine series as soon as possible" by offering shots on a walk-in basis.

The region noted people can get their second dose 28 days after their first dose of the Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines.

12 new cases

Region of Waterloo Public Health reported 12 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday. There were 149 active cases in the community.

There were 19 people in the region's three hospitals with 12 people in the intensive care unit.

There were 11 active outbreaks:

• Workplaces: Five.
• Child care/summer camp: Three.
• Hospital: Two.
• Congregate setting: One.