Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

SIMCOE MUSKOKA — As word spread yesterday about fourth booster shots being available today, local pharmacies and primary care physicians’ offices were swamped with calls about booking an appointment.

One anxious 60+, with mild immunity symptoms, said he’d been to four pharmacies Wednesday to find out how to at least get on a list.

The last pharmacist he saw — before giving up for the day — said they knew as much as he did and that the province of Ontario hadn’t given them warning, let alone letting them know when they’d get the latest COVID-19 vaccine.

Another pharmacist simply said: “Ask the province.”

Tuesday, April 12

GO-VAXX Bus:

Bracebridge Sportsplex,

11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The health unit added Thursday that eligibility has been expanded to include individuals 60 years and older as well as Indigenous residents and their non-Indigenous household members aged 18 and over.

The latest booster shot comes as the Ministry of Health estimates there are now as many as 100,000 new infected cases a day.

They say a fourth dose will provide an extra layer of protection against the Omicron and BA.2 variants and bolsters waning immunity. The recommended interval for a fourth dose is five months (140 days) following a third dose.

The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU) says GO-VAXX mobile vaccination clinics and its main immunization clinic at 29 Sperling Dr. in Barrie are offering walk-in appointments.

Individuals may also book appointments at these locations through the provincial booking system. Health unit community and pop-up clinics remain walk-in only.

Clinic walk-in schedules, including pop-ups and the GO-VAXX bus, are available on the health unit’s website and social media accounts.

Fourth dose boosters can also be obtained at select pharmacies, or through booked appointments with some primary care providers and select Family Health Teams that are offering vaccine as part of their regular clinical practice.

The health unit says with the continuing high rate of community transmission locally and provincially, they stress the importance of vaccination, particularly booster doses which reduce the risk of severe disease, hospitalization and death.

And that personal protective health measures such as staying home when ill, practicing proper hand hygiene, masking in public places, and maintaining physical distance remain simple yet crucial measures to help stop the spread of disease.

They still advise that when attending vaccination clinics, individuals are encouraged to dress for the weather as they may be required to wait outdoors before entering the clinic. They are also reminded to bring identification (e.g., health card, driver’s license, passport), a list of any medications they are taking, wear a loose-fitting shirt that allows easy access to the upper arm and bring any assistive devices as needed (e.g., scooter, wheelchair, cane).

For more information about COVID-19 and details about where and how to get your vaccination, please visit our website at www.smdhu.org/COVID19.

 

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