Keep trying to book vaccine shots: Oglaza

Hastings Prince Edward Medical Officer of Health is encouraging people to “keep trying” to book their COVID-19 vaccine appointments.

Dr. Piotr Oglaza made the statement following a meeting of the Board of Health on Wednesday.

Dr. Oglaza says more Pfizer vaccine is coming, up to just over 7,000 doses this month. “We are putting these into a booking system to provide appointments.”

Oglaza noted that he would encourage people to keep trying for an appointment since they are adding new appointments on a regular basis and referred to the public health website.

He also referred to the number of people in various age groups that had already been vaccinated.

“Setting the eligibility (age) does not mean there will be doses right away.  When you look at our immunization page tab you actually see these estimates. They are only estimates because, assuming that 100% of people in a particular age span will want to have vaccine. We know that its rarely 100%.”

Oglaza added, “Which is approximately 60% of the population from that age group. Then the 40% are the numbers that are already eligible and still need to get immunized. Then when you go down the age to 60 to 64 we have administered 7,410 doses and that’s 52%.  But again, half of the close to 15,000 number for that age group.  So these are individuals who are currently eligible and they haven’t yet gotten vaccine.”