HKPR District Health Unit Urges People to Get COVID Vaccines – More Appointments Are Available

Pete Fisher
2 years ago
• Categories: Local

If you still need a COVID-19 vaccine, there are more places and spaces to get your dose of protection in coming days.

The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit is promoting the continued availability of first, second or third doses of COVID-19 vaccine at its mass immunization clinics.

Hundreds of appointment slots are currently available this week (January 10-16) and next week (January 17-23) at the Health Unit’s mass immunization clinic site at the Cobourg Community Centre and Lindsay Exhibition. A new clinic is also now being offered at the Campbellford District High School on select dates in January and early February on Sundays (starting January 16).

These clinic sites are in addition to the ones the Health Unit is currently offering in Colborne, Minden, Fenelon Falls, and Brighton. Specific dates and locations for vaccination clinics are available at www.hkpr.on.ca.

The Health Unit is not accepting walk-ins at any of its clinics at this time. Instead, people are encouraged to make an appointment at www.ontario.ca/bookvaccine or by calling 1-833-943-3900 (TTY for people who are deaf, hearing-impaired or speech-impaired: 1-866-797-0007).

If people’s vaccine appointments are later in January, they’re being encouraged to rebook for an earlier date, especially if they are still waiting to receive a booster dose. Anyone 18 years and older is eligible for a booster dose as long as it’s been 84 days since their second dose.

“Getting your booster dose is extra important now as we deal with a surge in COVID-19 cases due to the Omicron variant,” says Dr. Natalie Bocking, Medical Officer of Health with the HKPR District Health Unit. “Booster doses offer much better protection against Omicron than just two doses, as boosters help to reduce your risk of serious illness and hospitalization.”

As of Monday (Jan. 10), 43.4% of residents ages 18 years and older had received their booster dose in Haliburton County, Northumberland County and the City of Kawartha Lakes.

“Thank you to everyone who has rolled up their sleeve already to get this added dose of protection,” Dr. Bocking adds. “To those who are still waiting, I’d encourage you to realize the benefits of COVID-19 vaccine and book an appointment right away.”

Currently, due to a provincial shortage of the Pfizer vaccine, individuals ages 30 years and older will receive the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at Health Unit clinics. Dr. Bocking says the Moderna vaccine has been shown to be highly effective as a booster dose and, given the Omicron surge, it is better to receive Moderna now rather than wait for a Pfizer dose.