SWPH Announces Plans to Help Seniors Book COVID-19 Vaccine Appointments

Thursday, 1 April 2021 15:43

Anyone born in 1941 can add their name or get a doctor, family member, community agency or friend to add their name to the help list to get a COVID-19 appointment in Woodstock and St. Thomas.

OXFORD COUNTY - Southwestern Public Health has announced plans to help local seniors book their COVID-19 vaccine appointment.

Program Manager for the COVID-19 Task Force Jaime Fletcher says they want to make sure the online booking system and the busy phone lines aren't a deterrent to seniors getting their shot.

"Seniors, and their family members, have told us that booking online is challenging and that the phone lines were sometimes very difficult to get through. We don't want technology to be a barrier to health. At the same time, we don't have a ready list of all the 80-year-olds, so we need the community’s help identifying those who want the vaccine but haven't yet secured an appointment."

The Health Unit has now added a Help List to the web site. Anyone born in 1941 or earlier can add their name. If you are unable to add your name, you can get a physician, community agencies, family members, and others to add you.

A health unit representative will call with a date, time, and location for their appointment. Often same day appointments will be offered. If they are unable to take the appointment they will be called again at another time.

Fletcher says they will start by offering end of day doses and doses from missed appointments.

"Once we have a firmer grasp on the numbers through this process, we'll accommodate within our clinics accordingly. Currently the health unit is administering approximately 1100 doses of the Pfizer vaccine each weekday between its two main vaccination sites. Mobile teams are in the community, immunizing vulnerable residents of congregate living settings."

The help list strategy will be expanded to include other segments of the population in the coming weeks.

The Help List can be found online at: https://forms.swpublichealth.ca/COVID-19-Help-List.