500 Ottawa residents receive COVID-19 vaccine at final Jabapalooza
Just after 3 p.m. Sunday, the last cow bell rang out signalling the end of a massive effort to get Ottawa residents vaccinated in the final Jabapalooza.
"It’s been pretty complicated to get the vaccine, so this has made all the difference in terms of access," said Mikayla Sherry, now fully vaccinated.
Spearheaded by Ottawa family physician, Dr. Nili Kaplan-Myrth, the event dubbed Jabapalooza saw more than 500 residents getting a jab to the arm in the Glebe Sunday afternoon.
"We’ll have given 2,500 (doses) over the course of the spring (and) the summer," said Dr. Kaplan-Myrth.
"It's help Ontario and Ottawa get people fully vaccinated."
As of Friday, 82 per cent of Ottawa residents ages 12 and over have received one dose, while 60 per cent of people are fully vaccinated.
For Harry Wang, volunteering at Jabapalooza is something he won’t forget. A first-year medical student at the University of Ottawa, the pandemic has made his first year of education unique.
"It’s had its challenges. We haven’t had a chance to do much clinical stuff which makes stuff like this really more special," he said.
It’s the fifth and final Jabapalooza in Ottawa and as Dr. Kaplan-Myrth looked around the white tents filled with volunteers, musicians and residents waiting to be vaccinated, she credited the spirit of community that made the event a success.
So far over $10,000 was raised from Jabapalooza t-shirt sales, with donations supporting local women’s shelters like Hope Cornerstone, Sakeenah Homes and Minwaashin Lodge.
"During the pandemic, women and children have increased the numbers of people who need to seek support and shelter," said Dr. Kaplan-Myrth. "That’s one of the things we could do at the same time as give the vaccines."
Meanwhile those who showed up for a vaccine were treated to live music by Chamberfest musicians as they waited for what was a bittersweet goodbye, in what Dr. Kaplan-Myrth hopes will be the beginning of the end.
"We'll keep giving vaccines in our offices," she said. "But I think we’ve met the need which is what we set out to do."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Iran fires at suspected Israeli attack drones near Isfahan air base and nuclear site
Iran fired air defences at a major air base and a nuclear site early Friday morning near the central city of Isfahan after spotting drones, which were suspected to be part of an Israeli attack in retaliation for Tehran's unprecedented drone-and-missile assault on the country.
NEW After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
In his new book 'As Long as You Need', hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Nearly half of China's major cities are sinking, researchers say
Nearly half of China's major cities are suffering 'moderate to severe' levels of subsidence, putting millions at risk of flooding especially as sea levels rise.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.
Judge says 'no evidence fully supports' murder case against Umar Zameer as jury starts deliberations
The judge presiding over the trial of a man accused of fatally running over a Toronto police officer is telling jurors the possible verdicts they may reach based on the evidence in the case.
Health Canada to change sperm donor screening rules for men who have sex with men
Health Canada will change its longstanding policy restricting gay and bisexual men from donating to sperm banks in Canada, CTV News has learned. The federal health agency has adopted a revised directive removing the ban on gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, effective May 8.
Colin Jost names one celebrity who is great at hosting 'Saturday Night Live'
Colin Jost, who co-anchors Saturday Night Live's 'Weekend Update,' revealed who he thinks is one of the best hosts on the show.
Sports columnist apologizes for 'oafish' comments directed at Caitlin Clark. The controversy isn't over
A male columnist has apologized for a cringeworthy moment during former University of Iowa superstar and college basketball's highest scorer Caitlin Clark's first news conference as an Indiana Fever player.