PHARMACY ASTRAZENECA COMING THIS WEEKEND, SAYS MILLER
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com
PARRY SOUND-MUSKOKA — MPP Norman Miller said late this afternoon that four pharmacies in the riding will start to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine this weekend.
He said the announcement was made possible by Health Canada’s approval of the U.S.-produced batch of AstraZeneca vaccine this morning.
Residents are asked to phone ahead to make an appointment to help prevent crowding at or outside the pharmacies and to ensure there is a dose available.
After the province announced the local pharmacies they were “inundated” with “hundreds of calls,” staff said.
“It’s insane.”
“This is great news for residents of Parry Sound-Muskoka.
“My offices are hearing from many people anxious to receive the vaccine and this will make the vaccine more accessible for a larger number of people.”
The pharmacy locations are in addition to the mass vaccination clinics being run by the public health units.
He said as of yesterday, roughly 13.5% of Ontarians had received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
And locally 13.9% of residents of Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit have received a vaccine.
And 15.7% of North Bay Parry Sound Health Unit residents have received at least one dose.
“Because our area has a higher percentage of seniors compared to Ontario overall, it is taking a little longer to work our way through the older age groups,” said Miller.
It is expected the number of pharmacy locations will expand to 1,500 by the end of April, pending supply from the federal government.
More pharmacies will be added as more vaccine becomes available. Residents can find an up-to-date list at https://covid-19.ontario.ca/vaccine-locations.
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