COVID-19 vaccine appointments now available for more Ottawans

Eligible people can now make appointments for Ottawa's public COVID-19 vaccine clinics, which openlater this week for certain peoplein higher-risk neighbourhoods.

Last week the city announced some peoplein seven higher-risk neighbourhoods could make an appointment to come to a pop-up clinic and get a COVID-19 vaccine starting March 5.

People born in or before 1941 or adult recipients of chronic home care livingLedbury, Herongate, Heatherington, Emerald Woods, Sawmill Creek, Ridgemont and Riverview are eligible to get a vaccine.

On Monday, the city released details on how the booking system wouldwork.

Eligible people mustcall 613-691-5505 to make an appointment.

The line is open from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends. Walk-ins will not be accepted.

Clinics will be happening at:

• Albion-Heatherington Community Centre at 1560 Heatherington Rd.
• Assunnah Muslims Association Community Centre at 1216 Hunt Club Rd.
• GreenboroCommunity Centre,363 Lorry Greenberg Dr.
• Sawmill Creek Pool and Community Centre at 3380 D'Aoust Ave.

All sites are accessible, saidthe city. People can ask for help to get to a clinic when they call if they need one.

'Possible somebody gets missed'

The decision on where to vaccinate first was based on a limited vaccine supply and those most at risk, saidAnthony Di Monte, the city's general manager of emergency and protective services.

"We will get to everybody when we have enough vaccine," Di Monte said Monday.

The number of Ottawans eligible in the first round is small, he said: around 700 in three neighbourhoods, out of roughly 40 to 50,000 people over the age of 80 across the city.

Di Monte said while people should wait for a robocall, anyone who thinks they are eligible and didn't get a call can take Ottawa Public Health's online screening tool.

Only then should someone call public health officials, he said, if they are eligible and didn't get a call. Thosewho aren't eligible areasked not to call the appointment number just yet to keep the lines open.

"This is not a perfect system,"he said. "It is possible somebody gets missed."

Di Monte said he believes 90 per cent of the target population will be notified, adding there are volunteer organizations to help people to and from vaccination clinics.

Expansion later this month

Community clinics are expected to open later this month for all other residentsgetting chronic home care or were born in or before 1941. More details on those clinics are expected soon.

Ottawa has now given more than 50,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses to care home residents, health-care workers and Indigenous adults.

Vaccination is expanding across the province this month, with three eastern Ontario health units soon trying out Ontario's booking system.