The Minister of Health and Social Services, Christian Dubé, provided an update on the vaccination campaign today, accompanied by the director of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign in Quebec, Daniel Paré, and the director National Public Health Officer, Doctor Horacio Arruda.
The operation continues to accelerate in Quebec, with the expansion in recent days of vaccination for certain people with a chronic disease and essential workers in environments at significant risk of outbreak, as well as the offer of the vaccine. AstraZeneca for people aged 45 and over.
Until now, people with a chronic disease with a very high risk of complications have been offered vaccination in hospitals where they are followed, or by a pharmacist. Increased vaccine dose deliveries over the coming weeks now allow vaccination to be expanded to two additional groups, before opening to the general population.
“With the large arrivals of vaccine doses expected in the coming weeks, we are able to extend vaccination to even more vulnerable people. This is great news. The experience gained over the past few months, with a more limited number of doses, has made it possible to confirm the excellent functioning of the logistics in place and to prepare us for the stage of vaccination of the general population, which is approaching in giant steps”, said Christian Dubé.
Next groups
As a first step, people with chronic diseases who are under the age of 60 will be able, as of April 23, to make an appointment at a vaccination center or at a pharmacy by going to Québec.ca / vaccinCOVID. This expansion will make it possible to offer the vaccine, over the coming weeks, to approximately 300,000 additional people suffering from chronic diseases under the age of 60.
In addition, as of April 28, anyone with a motor, intellectual, speech or language disability, visual, auditory or associated with other senses, or linked to an autism spectrum disorder may also make an appointment on the page Québec.ca / vaccinCOVID. Once again, the vaccination can be done in a vaccination clinic or in a pharmacy. One family caregiver per person belonging to this clientele can also register. Approximately 250,000 people, and as many caregivers, will be able to potentially obtain their first dose.
These two groups of people represent 1 million people in total, including the 200,000 people announced last week who are actively monitored in hospitals and whose vaccination has started. 800,000 new people are added to the current vaccination.
Vaccination to the general population will begin at the end of May.
AstraZeneca vaccine available in the Laurentians
As of April 21st, individuals aged 45 and over can receive the AstraZeneca vaccine without an appointment in dedicated clinics. The location and schedule of these clinics is available on the CISSS des Laurentides website. People that are interested can also make an appointment online via the ClicSante website. To be noted that, with or without an appointment, the AstraZeneca vaccine is available at all the vaccination centres in the Laurentians, but at dedicated time slots. Also, the CISSS des Laurentides reminds everyone that the AstraZeneca vaccine is available only to those aged 45 and over. Residents therefore must be 45 years old at the time when they get the vaccine (age will take precedence over year of birth).
