The Ottawa area's weekly COVID-19 vaccine checkup: April 22

Highlights:

• Ontario and Quebec have lowered the age of eligibility for theAstraZenecavaccine.
• Doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccineare expected to arrivenext week.
• Vaccines have been transferredfrom the Belleville area to COVID-19 hot spots.
• Renfrew County takes a step toward vaccinating pregnant people, diabetics.

Every Thursday, CBC Ottawa brings youthisroundup of COVID-19 vaccinationdevelopments throughoutthe region.

There have beenabout 600,000 doses administered in the wider Ottawa-Gatineau region, which has about 2.3 million residents. That'sabout 100,000doses more than last Thursday.

Ontario has set wide vaccine guidelines and given local health units someflexibility.There's more information in thelinks at the bottom of the page.

The provincial picture

Ontario lowered the age of eligiblityfor the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccineat pharmacies to 40, starting Tuesday. Pharmacies are also allowedto offer walk-ins if they wish.

WATCH |Vaccination slots fill up fast as eligibility lowered:

Many Ottawa residents ready and willing to get AstraZeneca vaccine, pharmacist says

3 years ago

Duration 1:02

Jordan Clark, owner of a Shoppers Drug Mart pharmacy in Westboro, says residents who are now eligible for the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine seem enthusiastic about getting it, with the pharmacy seeing a big increase in calls in the last week.

Quebec haslowered its eligibility age to 45.

Health authorities don't knowwhen thenext AstraZeneca shipment is coming. On Friday,the federal government announcedModerna would be shippingfewer doses than expected, Pfizer would be shipping more than expected, and deliveries of the single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine will start the week of April 27.

Ottawa

City officials said Monday they'relooking at vaccinating younger essential workersin May andJune. Educationand food manufacturing workers will be among the first in line.

WATCH | Dr. Vera Etches on the essential worker timeline:

Ottawa residents who cannot work from home are next to be vaccinated, OPH says

3 years ago

Duration 1:30

Vera Etches, Ottawas medical officer of health, says most residents aged 60 and over will have received their first vaccine dose by the end of April, making way for other high-risk groups to be vaccinated, including those who work in food distribution, child care and transit.

They say one reason they're not yetmoving toessential workersisthatmost COVID-19hospitalizations and deaths involve people over 50.

Abouthalfof residents in their 60sand about 70per cent in their 50sstill need a first dose.

WATCH |Union calls for better protectionafter surge in OC TranspoCOVID-19 cases:

Transit union pushing for access to vaccine as cases among OC Transpo workers rise

3 years ago

Duration 1:15

Clint Crabtree, president of ATU local 279, says anxiety and fear among OC Transpo workers is on the rise as COVID-19 cases increase, leading members to push for more safety measures and access to the vaccine.

Ottawa is expandingpop-up vaccinationclinics in priority neighbourhoods, and getting shots to higher-risk congregate settings. Essential workers may get their first dose atthose clinics.

More than 275,000 vaccine doses have now been given to Ottawa residents, including more than 26,700 second doses.

Twenty-four per cent of its population has had at least one dose.

Ottawa's population is about 1,050,000, but many age groups aren't yet eligible.

Western Quebec

Local pharmacies have started giving both the AstraZeneca and Moderna vaccines.

The Outaouais has distributed about 107,000 vaccine doses among a population of about 386,000.

Hastings Prince Edward

In a statement late last week, health authorities in Hastings Prince Edwardsaid the province's decision to target COVID-19 hot spots would reduce this region's available doses by about one-quarter, forcing them to cancel some appointments.

That meansdelaying first doses for some people in Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory. Less than 40per cent of the area's Indigenous population has had a firstdose.

More than 48,000 doses have goneto its residents, including more than 3,500second doses. About 27per cent of the population of about 168,000 has now had a first dose.

Renfrew County

Health officials in Renfrew County said Friday they're working to get second doses lined up.

It's opening up vaccine pre-registration for people with all the province's priorityhealth conditions, including pregnancy and diabetes.

A vaccine clinic is openat CFB Petawawa.

With a population of about 109,000, Renfrew County has distributed more than 21,000doses. It hasn't updated its numbers in the last week.

Eastern Ontario Health Unit

Teams of local paramedics are bringing vaccines to residents who have trouble leaving their homes.

Pop-up clinics are coming to Embrun and South Dundas. Akwesasne is hosting walk-in clinics in the coming days.

Medical Officer of Health Dr. Paul Roumeliotis said Monday plans are in the works to nearly triple thenumber of family doctors offering shots in the area from the current eight.

Among a population of about 209,000, more than 42,000 vaccine doses have been administered.

Leeds, Grenville and Lanark

LGL has started offering vaccines to residents and staff in congregate living settings such as group homes and shelters.

There will be mobile vaccinationclinics for local residents in Elgin on April 27, and Athens on May 11. Those people can book through their doctor or at 1-844-369-1234.

More than32,000 of the region's 173,000 residents have received at least onedose, according to the health unit. That number doesn't include include pharmacy doses.

Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington

The region, with a population of about 213,000,has given more than 68,000 vaccine doses to residents, including more than3,500second doses.

About 36 per cent of residents have received at least one vaccine dose.