VACCINE BOOKINGS PROBLEMATIC FOR SOME — BUT NOT ALL TODAY
SIMCOE MUSKOKA — It was probably to be expected.
As the province opened its vaccine booking centre at 8 a.m. this morning — and after weeks locally of difficulty getting said appointments or least of all on the waiting list — the local public health says they were left out of the online loop as far as showing what’s available.
And no, there still are no spaces available only waiting lists.
It’s confusing, especially for those 80 today who can now try to get an appointment.
A Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU) release this afternoon notes “that as of 10 a.m. Monday March 15, the Province has NOT yet inputted all the Simcoe Muskoka clinic locations and appointments into their booking system.”
This may result in a message to those trying to book an appointment that there are no appointments close to home.
In fact there are openings available. On Sunday only 306 vaccines were administered in the region, possibly due to shortages.
Richard Augustine, of Kilworthy, who’s just over 80 now got his appointment this morning “no problem.”
He’s going to Orillia Wednesday.
He said with “a little intuition,” he went on the provincial site 10 minutes before it was to officially go live at 8 a.m.
“I Googled the website and got on “no problem.”
And within 10 or 15 minutes he said he got a text and an email and had printed it off minutes later.
But John Brownlee, of Gravenhurst, is “ticked off” that both he and his wife Pat couldn’t get on today.
He said other Rotarians he knows have been able to get appointments.
The couple who are both in their 80s tried for days to call in, and this morning they got as far as “the point where you go to put your health card number in and it was rejected.
“It said the card has been tampered with,” he said.
So he went to the Service Ontario office in town and they couldn’t get through on their phones to help him.
Brownlee, who said he’s been to the Bracebridge clinic “just to see it,” said there didn’t seem to be many people around.
“We’ll just have to grin and bear it. We’ll get through some time.”
In the meantime the Brownlees are “just staying home and staying safe.”
And waiting.
Mary Leger, also of Gravenhurst, is equally frustrated.
“I have been trying since 8am to book an “over 80” couple,” she wrote on a related story comment.
“Haven’t got past inputting information on either. Keep getting message that form has been tampered with.
“A niece has also been trying all day to book someone and can’t get past the ‘form has been tampered with’ message. It also appears you can only book one at a time. How do you try to book an “over 80” couple without signing in again and waiting another hour to get to the front of the queue? Totally frustrating and waste of an entire day!”
The health unit said the province is troubleshooting this now and aims to have this completed by end of day today.
SMDHU says “please try again later to book an appointment close to you.”
In addition, it says the province is working to resolve a technical issue that results in a message to those trying to book that says “Form has been tampered with.”
The health unit asks that your “patience is appreciated.”
And says if you want more information about Ontario’s vaccine booking system, see Ontario.ca, or call the Provincial Vaccine Information Line: 1-888-999-6488, Monday to Sunday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Book online for adults turning 80 years of age or older (born in 1941 or earlier) ONLY, it says.
On the SMMDHU website it adds: “We understand your frustration and would appreciate your patience as the Province works to resolve issues with the COVID-19 booking system. Our phone line staff and IT department are unable to assist you with these complaints. Although we cannot provide booking or technical support, we will certainly share updates as the province sends them to us including:
“The province has not yet inputted all the Simcoe Muskoka clinic locations and appointments into their booking system. This may result in a message to those trying to book an appointment that there are no appointments close to home. The province is troubleshooting this now and aims to have this completed by end of day today. Please try again later.
“The Province is working to resolve a technical issue that results in a message to those trying to book that says “Form has been tampered with.”
“The Province of Ontario’s new online booking system and telephone contact centre to support COVID-19 vaccine appointments is now available. You must have:
a green photo health card (expired card will be accepted),
an email address a modern web browser (the booking site is not compatible with Internet Explorer 11 or earlier).”
For support over the phone call the Provincial Vaccine Booking Line: 1-888-999-6488; Hours of Operation – 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday-Sunday.
March 15, 2021 @ 3:07 pm
I have been trying since 8am to book an “over 80” couple. Haven’t got past inputting information on either. Keep getting message that form has been tampered with. A niece has also been trying all day to book someone and can’t get past the ‘form has been tampered with’ message. It also appears you can only book one at a time. How do you try to book an “over 80” couple without signing in again and waiting another hour to get to the front of the queue? Totally frustrating and waste of an entire day!