What activities have taken place over the past few weeks?
- 77,924 doses have been administered to HPEC residents and 6,225 individuals from HPEC are now fully immunized (please note number of vaccines includes residents who may have received a vaccine from an out of area pharmacy).
- 9,071 doses have been administered in the past 7 days.
- 43% of residents in HPEC have received at least one dose.
- Community clinics are continuing in Belleville, Quinte West, Picton, Madoc Township and Bancroft. All individuals aged 18 or older are now eligible to book through the provincial booking site at Ontario.ca/bookvaccine or by calling 1-833-943-3900. If no clinics are available (greyed out on calendar) please check back regularly. Please be patient as we are only able to administer the amount of vaccine we receive.
- Beginning on May 31, the City of Belleville will be hosting COVID-19 vaccination clinics at the Quinte Sports and Wellness Centre (QSWC) in the Family Dental Centre (FDC) Arena. HPEPH is grateful for the support of the City of Belleville, along with other community partners, to ensure community members have efficient access to COVID-19 vaccination opportunities.
- This centrally located vaccination site at the north end of Belleville will improve access for individuals from north of the City, as well as for those who work in the Industrial Park and retail sites located nearby.
- This additional clinic will also ensure public health resources are used as efficiently as possible during this critical time. The large space of the FDC Arena allows for implementation of a new “Hockey Hub” model, in which the patient stays in one place for both vaccination and observation. As a result of improved efficiency, this model can result in up to 2500 vaccinations at the site, each day, depending on vaccine allocations and availability.
- High-risk health care workers (as identified by the Ontario Ministry of Health) and First Nations, Inuit or Métis individuals, (including non-Indigenous partners and household members) are now eligible to receive their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine earlier than the extended four-month interval. Those who are eligible are encouraged to pre-register to receive information about booking your 2nd dose appointment. Completing this form will not pre-book you for an appointment. Once you are notified, you will still be required to book an appointment from clinics/spaces that are available at the time of booking, and appointments will be booked on a first booked-first confirmed basis.
- To ensure the efficient use of vaccine, HPEPH brings only enough vaccine for the number of scheduled appointments at a clinic. However, when people do not show up for their scheduled appointments, HPEPH has the opportunity to offer standby appointments to eligible individuals. Anyone currently eligible for COVID-19 vaccination at HPEPH community clinics, who does not have an appointment booked, can register. Every week from Friday at 4p.m. to the following Friday at 12p.m. a form will appear on our website. Sign up using your name, email and other required information, and select the clinic location(s) that you will be able to get to with 30 minutes notice. Selection for the standby will be based on prioritization. It’s not about being the first person to sign up during this timeframe.
- Individuals are encouraged to take advantage of the earliest possible opportunity to get vaccinated.
Who is currently eligible for first-dose vaccination?
- Individuals 18 and older
What about second doses for those who have received a first dose already?
- Most people will receive their second dose approximately 16 weeks after the first. If you have received a first dose of the vaccine and do not have a second appointment you will be contacted when it is time to book your second dose appointment. Please do NOT call HPEPH or your health care provider to book your second dose appointment. You will be contacted to book your second dose at the appropriate time.
- The following groups qualify for shortened second dose intervals:
- Residents of LTC and Retirement Homes
- Hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients
- Organ transplant recipients
- Stable, active treatment* for malignant hematologic disorders and nonhematologic malignant solid tumor
- Dialysis patients
- Indigenous adults and their household members
What are the next steps in Phase 2 Roll Out?
- Children ages 12-17 years of age will be eligible to book through the provincial system at Ontario.ca/bookvaccine starting on May 31, 2021 and we are currently working with local school boards to establish additional vaccination opportunities for local students.
