Following inquiries made early Monday by Sudbury.com, Public Health Sudbury & Districts has clarified some of the confusion that exists around the procedure of booking COVID-19 vaccination appointments for residents who are 75 years and older.
Several city residents contacted the Sudbury.com newsroom expressing concern and disappointment at not being able to get through on the provincial system.
Sudbury.com asked the health unit to clarify the issue.
Public Health Sudbury & Districts (PHSD) issued a news release Monday afternoon that revealed 75-year-olds in the Sudbury district should not be trying to book their appointment through the Ontario online vaccination system or call centre.
While other parts of the province are vaccinating those age 75 and up, the Greater Sudbury region isn’t among them.
The news release said PHSD would make an announcement "soon" and that information about that would be released "in the coming days". It could be done by next week, said PHSD.
"Public Health Sudbury & Districts has not yet transitioned to the provincial online COVID-19 vaccine booking system and will announce once this transition occurs. Currently, pharmacies and primary care practices across Public Health’s service area are not offering the COVID-19 vaccine. Details about vaccination opportunities in local pharmacies are expected to be shared as we move into Phase 2 of the vaccine rollout plan," said the PHSD news release.
PHSD has also published a list of those who are eligible to register for vaccinations at this time.
This includes the following:
- Staff, residents, or essential caregivers of long-term care homes.
- Staff of retirement homes or congregate care settings for seniors.
- Residents of retirement homes or congregate care settings for seniors.
- Residents or staff of Elder care homes.
- Health care workers (see Ministry of Health criteria).
- Indigenous adults (First Nations, Métis, Inuit).
- Adults 80 years of age and older in 2021 (individuals born in 1941 or earlier).
- Recipients of chronic home care.
Adults born in 1941 or earlier, or adults who receive chronic home care services, who have not yet been vaccinated, can now call and book COVID-19 vaccination appointments without pre-registering.
To book an appointment, please call 705-674-2299 (toll-free: 1-800-708-2505). The call centre is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week, said the news release.
