'Adding more anxiety': Ottawa residents react to booking woes as provincial eligibility expands
For six hours this morning, Brynn Chleirich tried and failed to book her second dose of COVID-19 vaccine through Ontario’s booking portal.
“That’s not helpful, that’s not hope; that’s adding more anxiety and aggravation and frustration and lines and waiting lists,” Cleirich said.
A mother of five, a COVID-19 survivor, and living with Lupus, Cleirich says fear of catching the virus again keeps her up at night.
“When I tested positive, my adult son cried, my youngest twin [boy] cried, because we thought it was a death sentence. That second shot is so very necessary and it’s not available,” Cleirich said.
This week 13,000 additional doses of the vaccine are coming to Ottawa, but those doses are destined for pharmacies; meaning those trying to book through the provincial portal couldn’t access those appointments.
“I didn’t know that. I would’ve put my resources, as limited as they are, into pharmacies first,” Cleirich said.
Eventually, through the help of a Twitter message, Cleirich was able to book an appointment directly through the Bruyère Health Centre. She says she cried tears of joy when she got the confirmation.
Others went to extreme lengths to find their second shot.
“What I did was look into other areas near Ottawa and then I thought maybe just a little bit farther and I could do it but there was nothing,” Jakeline Celis said.
Celis, a new immigrant from Mexico, says she took out a map and began looking up cities around the province where she might be able to get a dose.
“I just started looking into that and then I realized that the bookings were flying really fast. It was saying, ‘Oh yes, there is a place,’ and then, when I clicked, there was nothing and it started to get farther and farther,” she said.
Eventually, Celis was able to book an appointment in Simcoe, a five-hour drive away.
“On one side I said, ‘Oh, my God, thank God,’ but on the other hand it was a little bit disappointing because it is very far away,” Celis said.
Lindsey Ehman was one of the lucky few able to book a second shot in Ottawa through the provincial portal.
“I tried a couple times with my postal code and then managed to get something just about two weeks out,” Ehman said.
Still, she agrees the current system isn’t ideal.
“I want to be supportive and say that any way we can get doses into arms is positive but certainly something a little more predictable would be ideal,” Ehman added.
For pharmacists across Ottawa, the past few days have been just as challenging.
“We found out about [the new AstraZeneca eligibility] but it’s like we just heard about it and the phones started ringing. Since Saturday, Sunday and Monday, it's been non-stop, like even after hours,” ProMed Pharmacy Owner Lubna Fawaz said.
Fawaz says she’s ordered 600 mRNA doses and hopes to begin vaccinations later this week, but isn’t sure how many vaccines she’ll receive or when she’ll have them.
“I’m hoping to get the 600 we ordered but we’re taking it easy. I think we’re going to book 120 [appointments],” she said.
Fawaz says the past few days have been the most stressful in over 20 years of business.
“If we receive more than than 110 doses, we’ll go forward and book again,” she said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Asking rent prices up 9.3% across Canada, Ontario sees only decline: report
A new report says the average asking rent for a home in Canada in April was up 9.3 per cent compared with a year ago, while a slight month-over-month increase was also recorded for the first time since January.
What is basic income, and how would it impact me?
Parliamentarians are considering a pair of bills aiming to lift people out of poverty through a basic income program, but some fear these types of systems could result in more taxes for Canadians who are already financially struggling.
'I may have some nightmares:' Man survives being bitten by 2 sharks in Bahamas
A man who was bitten by two sharks in the Bahamas said Thursday he's 'thankful that I'm here' while sharing his story of survival.
Magnitude 4.2 earthquake reported off Vancouver Island's west coast
A 4.2-magnitude earthquake was recorded west of Vancouver Island early Friday morning.
Mexico's president accuses press and volunteer searchers for missing people of 'necrophilia'
The administration of Mexico's president has accused the press and volunteer searchers who look for the bodies of missing people of 'necrophilia,' comments that drew criticism this week.
WATCH Expecting an interest rate cut in June? Don't bet on it after new jobs data
Canada's labour market rebounded in April, adding more than 90,000 jobs, a staggering number of new positions after four consecutive months of little change.
Out-of-control wildfire burning near Fort McMurray
As of 9 a.m. on Friday, the wildfire burning 28 kilometres southwest of the northeastern Alberta city was 25 hectares in size.
Prince William says wife Kate is 'doing well'
Prince William said on Friday his wife Kate was 'doing well' in a rare public comment about the Princess of Wales as she undergoes preventative chemotherapy for cancer.
'Irate male' assaulted Newfoundland officers with block of cheese, police say
Police in Newfoundland say patrol officers were assaulted Thursday by a "very irate male" wielding a block of cheese.