Walk-in booster shots open for Hamiltonians 50 and up at Centre on Barton
CBC
Hamilton Public Health Services has opened its first walk-in vaccine clinic for people trying to get a third dose.
Anyone 50 or older can get a booster shot at the Centre on Barton as of Wednesday.
Dr. Elizabeth Richardson, the city's medical officer of health, said during a Tuesday media briefing the clinic is open from 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., and parking in the area is free.
It comes after a surge in demand for booster shots in late December when the province allowed anyone 18 and older to get a third dose.
Asked if other walk-in clinics will open, Richardson said this is the only walk-in clinic run by public health for now, but there's an "active, day-by-day discussion" to expand vaccine access.
"Those over 50, that's our first target group. People we know are longest from their previous doses and at highest risk overall in terms of severe disease," she said. "We'll continue to look at ways we can expand reach. We do have those long-term care homes, those seniors' congregate settings that we really do want to get out to. Again, higher risk settings."
The introduction of a walk-in clinic comes after at least one local doctor said public health vaccine clinics have been inefficient and should follow the lead of primary care-led clinics, which have been open to walk-ins for quite some time now.
For example, Mission Services at 196 Wentworth Street North is open to walk-ins. It runs every Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Some 36 per cent of eligible people have received their booster, according to Richardson, but there's been recent a dip in demand for boosters.
"We're not sure yet whether that's just everybody trying to get in line with the transition that's been happening from holidays to dealing with things in their personal lives or whether this represents as well some people are sick and not booking in until they're able to be sure they're not coming into our clinics sick which is a great thing people are doing as well," she said.
P.E.I.'s Public Schools Branch is looking for 50 substitute bus drivers, and it'll be recruiting at three job fairs on Saturday, June 8. The job fairs are located at the Atlantic Superstore in Montague, Royalty Crossing in Charlottetown, and the bus parking lot of Three Oaks Senior High in Summerside. All three run from 9 a.m. until noon. Dave Gillis, the director of transportation and risk management for the Public Schools Branch, said the number of substitute drivers they're hiring isn't unusual. "We are always looking for more. Our drivers tend to have an older demographic," he said.