MLHU grappling with low vaccine availability as Londoners look to get their booster shots
CBC
The Middlesex-London Health Unit (MLHU) says the demand for booster vaccines is exceeding its current supply as the omicron variant continues to spread.
A search for booster appointments through MLHU's booking portal shows no available slots until the new year, leaving many Londoners to rethink and possibly cancel their holiday plans.
During Monday's briefing, Dr. Alex Summers, acting medical officer of health, said the unit has more than doubled its capacity to deliver vaccines and added about 6,000 appointments for booster shots since Sunday.
"With the new group of people that became eligible today, unfortunately demand far exceeds the available appointments through our mass vaccination clinics," he said.
Summers said the unit's website books mass vaccination appointments in a four-week window, but despite this, there are no appointments available in the next seven to 10 days.
"It takes a village to vaccinate, and that village is maxed out right now," said Summers.
Middlesex County's warden, Alison Warwick, said due to new provincial guidelines, annual holiday celebrations have been cancelled.
Said Omar has been searching for open slots all weekend to get his in-laws their booster shots, but did not get a date until mid-January, well after the holiday season.
"It complicates our plans and adds stress. It's unfortunate because a lot of people want to get together and being vaccinated is one of the best ways to do that safely," he said.
"It would be nice to have these booster appointments available, or else it's going to put a strain on people and they're just going to lose their confidence in the system."
Summers said he understands how people might be frustrated, but emphasized that the first two doses of the vaccine still offer some protection against the variant.
"Knowing that there's a tool out there that can be used to protect ourselves, and yet not being able to access that in the imminent future, is a frustration, and that might be an understatement," he said.
London Health Sciences Centre's (LHSC) executive vice-president, Carol Young-Ritchie, said there is a high number of people who are booking vaccine appointments and not showing up to them.
She emphasized the importance of cancelling appointments for boosters and PCR tests if residents have found another slot, to make appointments available for others.
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