Huron Perth Public Health will be moving to a new COVID-19 vaccine booking system soon.
Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Miriam Klassen, says public health was forced to take their current system offline last month due to technical difficulties when the province expanded eligibility for third doses.
“We regret the inconvenience and difficulty it has caused for the community trying to book appointments, and we appreciate those people who are trying to get in.”
Dr. Klassen adds appointments can still be booked by phone but call volumes are high.
“It might take us a little longer to get back to you but be patient,” Klassen said. “We have many staff working to book these appointments and, despite the issues, be aware that we’re filling all of our clinics to capacity. There are no unused appointments and there is still no room for walk-ins.”
Meanwhile, Ontario has been reintroduced to stricter capacity and gathering limits due to increasing COVID-19 cases fuelled by the Omicron variant.
However, Dr. Klassen says that doesn’t mean we’re heading in the wrong direction.
“I don’t think it’s a step backwards. I think we continue to learn and we continue to add tools in our toolbox as we’re moving forward
Dr. Klassen urges residents to follow public-health guidelines, and acknowledges the Omicron wave has brought with it significant change.
As of January 5, Huron Perth Public Health was reporting 944 active cases of COVID-19 in the region.
