Health unit expands vaccination opportunities

By Cecilia Nasmith

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 with hundreds of appointment slots currently available this week and next – from now through Jan. 23 – at the mass-immunization clinic at the Cobourg Community Centre.

The health unit also announces a new clinic at Campbellford District High school on Sundays from Jan. 16 through early February.

These sites are in addition to the ones the health unit currently offers in Colborne and Brighton, and specific date and locations are available at www.hkpr.on.ca.

None of these clinics is accepting walk-ins at this time. Instead, people are encouraged to make an appointment by visiting 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).

The health unit urges anyone with a vaccine appointment later in January to rebook to an earlier dates, especially those waiting for a booster dose. At this time, anyone aged 18 and older is eligible, provided it has 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,” Medical Officer of Health Dr. Natalie Bocking, Medical Officer of Health said in the press release.

“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 this week, 43.4% of residents ages 18 years and older had received their booster dose in the region covered by 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 said.