STEPHEN RICCIO
OUTAOUAIS March 17, 2021
As the process of vaccinating residents aged 85 and up heads into its second week around the Outaouais, those aged 70 and above are now able to book appointments to receive vaccines as of March 10.
While it is unclear exactly when the next block of residents, aged 80 and above, will receive their doses, the CISSSO stated . . .
in a March 10 press conference its goal to vaccinate all of those willing who are 60 and above by the end of April.
With vaccination underway, CISSSO medical officer Carol McConnery cautioned people who have already received a first dose against skirting the existing COVID restrictions in place.
“Right now [if] you’re immunized, nothing has changed, you still have to apply all the measures, even the curfew and everything,” she said.
However, McConnery provided some hope when she mirrored comments that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made in a March 9 press conference.
“Like you heard from the Prime Minister yesterday: if we immunize everybody over the age of 65, well maybe … you’ll be able to have our neighbors over for supper,” she said.
McConnery said that she was encouraged to have incoming AstraZeneca vaccine doses, and she noted that the Johnson & Johnson vaccine should soon be available to use too.
According to the Quebec government, the vaccine provides advantages due to it not needing to be kept frozen and it being able to be used up to 48 hours after a vial is opened.
Residents aged 70 and above can sign up for an appointment to receive their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by going online at quebec.ca/vaccincovid or by calling 1-877-644-4545.
