APH announces new vaccination booking system, upcoming clinics

Three new COVID-19 vaccination clinic dates have been announced at the GFL Memorial Gardens – May 7, 14 and 15.

In a news release issued today, Algoma Public Health (APH) also released information regarding its new vaccination appointment booking system.

“We will be staggering booking start dates based on age and priority population,” the release states. “Please do not book until you are eligible, or your appointment may be cancelled.”

“Although the province has issued an accelerated vaccine booking eligibility schedule, especially in designated hot spot areas, local appointment availability in Algoma is still dependent on vaccine supply in our region,” APH clarified in the release. ”As soon as higher priority and higher risk groups have had a reasonable opportunity to be immunized, new eligible groups will be able to book an appointment within the coming weeks.”

Full text of the news release follows:

Algoma Public Health (APH) and Algoma Ontario Health Team (AOHT) are pleased to announce that booking will soon open for 3,500 new appointments at the COVID-19 Community Vaccine Hub being held at the GFL Memorial Gardens for the following dates:

• Friday, May 7
• Friday, May 14
• Saturday, May 15

Demand for vaccine continues to exceed the supply we have been allocated for the Algoma region. As vaccine continues to arrive, more clinics will be made available in the near future.

Although the province has issued an accelerated vaccine booking eligibility schedule, especially in designated hot spot areas, local appointment availability in Algoma is still dependent on vaccine supply in our region.  As soon as higher priority and higher risk groups have had a reasonable opportunity to be immunized, new eligible groups will be able to book an appointment within the coming weeks.

NEW BOOKING PROCESS

We will be staggering booking start dates based on age and priority population. Please do not book until you are eligible, or your appointment may be cancelled.

Eligible groups can book their appointments on dates outlined below:

HOW TO BOOK

Option 1 (book by phone):

• Call 705-541-2332 (starting Monday, May 3, 2021)
• Phone lines will be open Monday – Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Option 2 (online): Recommended

• Visit this link and click on ‘make an appointment online’ under Sault Ste. Marie – GFL Memorial Gardens tab.

PRIORITY-BASED POPULATIONS

• NEW: High-risk congregate settings, such as shelters, community living (complete list)
• NEW: Individuals with highest risk chronic conditions and their caregivers, including those who are pregnant (complete list)
• NEW: Licensed child care workers who interact directly with children in licensed child care settings (complete list)
• Health Care Workers Guidance for Prioritizing Health Care Workers
• Education workers who provide direct daily support to students with special education needs
• Faith leaders:
  • End of life care
  • Care of the deceased, funerals, bathing, or other ceremony with direct contact with deceased persons
  • Home visits to unwell persons
  • Pastoral care in hospitals/long-term care homes/retirement homes or other vulnerable settings  
• Staff and essential caregivers in long term care, retirement homes and other congregate care settings for seniors (e.g. assisted living)
• Indigenous adults (18+ and household members)
• Adult chronic home care recipients

Throughout Algoma, you can search for a clinic near you and follow the instructions for available clinics by municipality. As more clinics are added throughout Algoma, the above priority populations will have the opportunity to be vaccinated.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

If you are eligible for COVID-19 immunization, and have one of the conditions below, please speak with your treating health care provider BEFORE attending your immunization appointment:

• Pregnancy
• Breastfeeding
• Have an autoimmune condition or are immunocompromised due to disease or treatment

People with booked appointments may bring one support person with them to the clinic. Only people with booked appointments will be immunized.

Until the vaccine is widely available, we still need to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 in our region:

• Stay home as much as possible, and avoid gatherings, visiting or having close contact with people you don’t live with
• Anyone who is ill, even with mild symptoms, must stay home and self-isolate away from others
• Avoid all non-essential travel
• Wear a mask as required in indoor public spaces and outside when physical distancing cannot be maintained