Thousands of vaccine appointments remain open in York Region
Data reveals the demand for a second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine may be easing off in York Region after hundreds of appointments went unbooked.
According to the region's medical officer of health, Dr. Karim Kurji, the health unit made 25,000 appointments available on Monday; but there were still about 2,500 that went unbook as of Tuesday morning, with another 33,000 appointments set to open to the public starting at 8 a.m. Wednesday.
"I'm hoping that you know folks that haven't been able to get appointments at the earlier stages will probably make use of these opportunities," says Dr. Kurji.
To date, 80 per cent of adults in York Region have received at least one dose of the vaccine, with just more than half the adults now fully vaccinated.
Dr. Kurji says the concern now sits with the 20 per cent who have yet to roll up their sleeves at least once. He says the region could rely heavily on pop-up clinics to get as many vaccinated as possible.
"It is very important, really, that we get coverage extended to the majority of our population," the top doc says. "So far, I think we have reached just under 80 per cent of our 12+ population with first doses while we are doing fairly well with the earlier second doses."
Plans are already in the works for pop-up clinics within York Region malls specifically for first doses only. Walk-ins are also being considered at some of the region's clinics starting July 12.
According to Dr. Kurji, up until now, clinics have worked with individuals when possible, ensuring their second dose was the same brand as their first. But an impending Pfizer shortage isn't going to allow that to continue, at least for now.
"We are advising people in advance that until about July 18, we can expect to be giving Moderna instead of Pfizer because of the relative shortage of Pfizer," says Dr. Kurji. "Thereafter, we expect the Pfizer supplies to resume again."
Eligible children between 12 and 17 years of age will still receive the Pfizer vaccine.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.