Seniors 70 and older in the London region can now book their appointment to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
The Middlesex London Health Unit and Southwestern Public Health announced the expanded eligibility for the shot to include anyone born in 1951 or earlier on Monday. Those 70 and older will be able to book in to get the vaccine immediately with 5,000 timeslots now available. More appointments will open each morning at 7 a.m. in London, St. Thomas, Woodstock, Middlesex, Oxford and Elgin counties.
“Our priority has been to get the vaccine into arms as quickly as we can and with a growing number of those over the age of 75 having received their first dose, the time is right to invite those who are between the ages of 70 and 74 to make their appointments,” said Dr. Chris Mackie, medical officer of health at the Middlesex-London Health Unit. “We know the demand for the vaccine appointments will be high, so we encourage people to book online and to keep checking each morning if they aren’t able to book an appointment right away.”
The vaccination effort opened up to seniors 80 and older on March 2. Three weeks later, it was expanded to include those between the ages of 75 and 79.
According to provincial data, more than 75 per cent of Ontarians over the age of 80 have received their first dose of the vaccine as of Saturday. More than a third of people between the ages of 75 and 79 have been administered their first shot.
People in the 70-plus crowd are encouraged to book their vaccine appointment online at www.covidvaccinelm.ca. Mackie is asking family, friends, and neighbours of people in this age group to help those having trouble booking through the website in an effort to steer individuals away from the phone line. Appointments can be booked by phone by calling 226-289-3560, however high call volumes can make it difficult to get through and in the past have temporarily crashed the system.
