Within hours of opening bookings for vaccination by 80+ residents yesterday, Durham Region Health Department, announced that it was fully booked until March 14.
“At this time, vaccine is in short supply, however, we are expecting additional supply from the province in the coming days,” said a Durham Health tweet.
“Please continue to check our website for info on more appointments as they become available,” it added.
The opening day was not without its issues with Durham Health having to field at least one testing inquiry.
It could not commit whether an 86+ dad residing in Durham (but with a BC Health Card) could receive the vaccine or not.
“Only Durham Region residents who are 80+ or who will be turning 80 in 2021 are eligible for a Covid-19 vaccine at our clinic opening March 9. It is important to understand that our vaccine supply is still limited, as we currently only have access to the Pfizer vaccine in Durham,” was Durham Health’s reply to a daughter’s query.
When she pressed that her father would be returning to British Columbia only later in spring, Durham Health replied: “…Thank you for reaching out. At this time only Durham Region residents who are 80+ or who will be turning 80 in 2021 are eligible for a Covid-19 vaccine at our clinic beginning March 9.”
Another issue reported was of the website not allowing appointment bookings, with a claim by an inquirer that no one was answering the phone either.
Durham Region Health Department asked the person to try this link to book: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?
Durham Health also had to filed inquiries by caregivers who were not in the target age group, but who were looking after 80+ residents.