By Matthew McCully
While the 80-and-over age group was busy online and on the phone making an appointment for a second dose of vaccine against COVID-19, a number of Townshippers were given the shot Monday without an appointment.
The Record was informed that after having trouble trying to book a second dose appointment, a Sherbrooke resident made their way to the Centre de Foires to try and make the appointment in person. Upon arrival, they were offered the vaccine on the spot, and told walk-ins were welcome. The resident shared the tip, and sure enough, a handful of locals got a hassle-free second dose.
A spokesperson for the CIUSSS de l’Estrie-CHUS confirmed that people who presented for a dose without an appointment Monday were welcomed at several vaccination centres in the region. “We accepted people who came for the first dose and people who came for the second dose and who met the age criteria (80+) as well as the interval between the two doses,” the representative said. “We had the capacity to do this as not all our appointments were filled. Also, the Clic santé platform was having difficulties in bringing forward the second doses. We therefore welcomed people to overcome this problem.”
The Record asked if walk-ins would continue to be allowed at vaccination centres, but the statement sent by the CIUSSS de l’Estrie-CHUS representative did not address that question.
Pfizer only
The province announced Monday that the second dose appointments available are for the Pfizer vaccine only. More supplies of Moderna are expected shortly and when they are replenished, appointments for doses of that vaccine will be made available.
There are currently still doses of AstraZeneca available without appointment at local clinics. Anyone who received a first dose eight weeks ago or later is eligible for their second dose.
