A new vaccine targeting the Omicron variant of COVID-19 is available for at-risk people in Haliburton County.
The Haliburton Kawartha Lakes Pine Ridge District Health Unit announced Sept. 12 that people aged 18 and older can book a dose of the bivalent COVID-19 booster through the provincial booking portal or by calling the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre (PVCC) at 1-833-943-3900.
A bivalent COVID-19 booster targets both the original strain of COVID-19 and the new Omicron variant, which has become the dominant kind of COVID-19 spreading around the world.
As of Sept. 14, only the following populations can book a shot, with more availability incoming:
• Residents of long-term care homes, retirement homes, elder care lodges and individuals living in other congregate settings that provide assisted-living and health services.
• First Nation, Inuit and Métis individuals and their non-Indigenous household members aged 18 and over.
• Moderately to severely immunocompromised individuals aged 12 and over.
• Pregnant individuals aged 18 and over.
• Health care workers aged 18 and over.
• Individuals aged 70 and over.
“I would like to encourage all residents aged 18 and over to receive the bivalent booster dose as recommended by the Ministry of Health,” said Dr. Natalie Bocking, medical officer of health for the HKPR district health unit.
“We know that vaccine protection decreases over time, and now is the time to better protect yourself for the upcoming fall season with the bivalent booster.”
The health unit currently doesn’t have vaccine clinics located in Haliburton County.
Clinic dates and locations include: Sept 13, 15, 21, 23: Lindsay office (108 Angeline St. S., Lindsay), 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., by appointment only.
Sept 19, 20, 26, 27: Knights of Columbus Community Centre (232 Spencer St. E, Cobourg), 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., by appointment only.
Sept 28 and 29: Lindsay Exhibition Centre (354 Angeline St. N., Lindsay), 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., by appointment only.
The HKPR said the bivalent booster dose will also be available through pharmacies beginning Sept. 19, 2022.
“Individuals are recommended to receive the bivalent booster at an interval of at least six months from their previous dose (and are eligible to receive the bivalent booster at a minimum interval of three months), regardless of how many boosters they have already received,” the health unit said.
