COVID-19 vaccine appointments in high demand in Waterloo Region

Appointments for COVID-19 vaccines in Waterloo Region are in high demand after the province expanded eligibility for booster shots.

Starting Monday, residents 18 and older will be able to get a third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. The interval has also shortened from six to three months since a second dose.

The expanded eligibility is aimed at getting shots in arms as Ontario deals with the threat of the Omicron variant.

Speaking at a regional council meeting on Wednesday night, local health officials said the booking system is overwhelmed with demand, adding appointments are usually filled within minutes of opening.

Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang stressed the importance of getting a third dose as soon as possible, since two vaccine doses appears not to provide as much protection from infection for the Omicron variant.

The region's vaccine lead, Vickie Murray, said they're working hard to vaccinate as many people as possible. She said vaccine supply isn't an issue, but they are dealing with other issues.

"The biggest challenge to ramp up is the human resources, the people who run the clinics," Murray said. "That includes all jobs in the clinic, not just the immunizers. It's the front-line admin staff and the leaders to lead each clinic."

Residents are encouraged to use the fastest available option to get a shot, including looking at pharmacies and primary care offices.

The region plans to bring back the hockey-hub style clinic at Bingemans, along with pop-up mobile clinics and vaccine buses to help meet demand.

“My husband and I are both standing here with our arms out,” said Kitchener resident Virginia Moffat, who said she has been trying to book appointments for herself, her husband and her senior mother.

Moffat said she's having a hard time booking an appointment.

“It came up with a screen that basically said minimum one hour wait time,” she said.

The region tweeted on Thursday afternoon all clinic are at capacity for third doses but more appointments will be opening in the coming days and weeks.

After the wait to get on, some residents said the system isn't easy to navigate.

“You have to search by location and flip through day by day so It can be a little frustrating, “said Jennifer Almeida, a Kitchener resident who got her second dose in the summer. She said she is happy she will be eligible sooner, but she will still have to wait.

“There was no availability up to the end of January,” she said. “Like everyone else we’d like for this to just be over."

“So many people who have had two doses of vaccine will still become infected when they come into contact with omicron,”said Dr. Wang.

“Going forward it will take everyone in our community with all hands on deck. to vaccinate the approximately 350,000 people who will be eligible effective Monday Dec. 20th,” said Murray.