Ottawa doctor hosts Jabapalooza to administer COVID-19 fourth doses
Jabapalooza made its return once again to Ottawa.
The COVID-19 vaccine clinic in the Glebe on Sunday is the latest efforts by Dr. Nili Kaplan Myrth to help slow the current wave fuelled by the Omicron sub-variant BA.5.
"My mother’s had it, my daughter’s had it but we’ve managed to keep out of it so far," said Fiona Schrader, who received her fourth dose.
With second booster doses open to those 18 and older in Ontario, Schrader and her husband Mark are relieved to get the jab in the arm.
"A little concerned, it seems to be getting lesser in severity but more likely you’re gonna get it."
Here in Ottawa three new deaths have been linked to COVID-19 in the last week, while 37 people were in hospital as of Friday. The latest spike in positive cases are also affecting several people’s day-to-day routine.
"I’m more hesitant to go into the office because I just don’t want to be in the big gathering spaces," said Victoria Weapenicappo.
"We also now have a lot of weddings, we are trying to be really careful in advance of that," said Sarah Hedges-Chow.
"I think everyone is being more cautious about the impact, not just on themselves but those they care about," said Jefferson Allen.
While wastewater data is trending down, COVID-19 numbers are still higher than a month ago. It’s a rising concern for many in health care.
"The fact our health care system is crumbling and having increased COVID-19 cases only adds to that problem," said Dr. Dale Kalina, an infectious diseases physician with Joseph Brant Hospital in Burlington. He says we will likely see more waves especially as we head into fall.
"I’m telling people to wear public masks in indoor places if you have any cold symptoms, get yourself tested if you can but stay away from other people," said Dr. Kalina. "That is the most important thing we can do right now to preserve our health care system that we have."
Meanwhile, Schrader, who is immunocompromised and has not tested positive for COVID-19, said these waves are now part our new normal.
"This is our new reality," said Schrader. "You just want to make sure you’re obtaining that protection to keep yourself healthy."
As of 6 p.m., Dr. Kaplan-Myrth said Jabapalooza had administered more than 900 doses on Sunday.
Starting Monday, Quebec children between six months to under five years old will be able to receive a modified lower dose of the vaccine, with the province’s health officials saying 70,000 doses are available. Children in Ottawa and Ontario can begin to book appointments to receive the COVID-19 vaccine on Thursday.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'My family doctor just fired me': Ontario patients frustrated with de-rostering
Dozens of Ontarians are expressing frustration in the province’s health-care system after their family doctors either dropped them as patients or threatened to after they sought urgent care elsewhere.
Canada Post cracks down on Nunavut loophole to get free Amazon Prime shipping
Amazon's paid subscription service provides free delivery for online shopping across Canada except for remote locations, the company said in an email. While customers in Iqaluit qualify for the offer, all other communities in Nunavut are excluded.
Millions of Canadians have been exposed to potentially toxic chemicals, and they're not going anywhere
For decades, North Bay, Ontario's water supply has harboured chemicals associated with liver and developmental issues, cancer and complications with pregnancy. It's far from the only city with that problem.
Michael Cohen: A challenging star witness in Donald Trump's hush money trial
He once said he would take a bullet for Donald Trump. Now Michael Cohen is prosecutors' biggest piece of legal ammunition in the former president's hush money trial.
German men with the strongest fingers compete in Bavaria's 'Fingerhakeln' wrestling championship
Despite the threat of dislocated fingers and strained muscles, over 150 Bavarian men came together Sunday to compete in Germany’s unique national championship of “Fingerhakeln,” or finger wrestling.
Flash floods in northern Afghanistan sweep away livelihoods, leaving hundreds dead and missing
The UN food agency estimated that unusually heavy seasonal rains in Afghanistan have left more than 300 people dead and thousands of houses destroyed, most of them in the northern province of Baghlan, which bore the brunt of the deluges Friday.
Adopted daughter in the Netherlands reunited with sister in Montreal and mother in Colombia, 40 years later
Two daughters and a mother were reunited online 40 years later thanks to a DNA kit and a Zoom connection despite living on three separate continents and speaking different languages.
4th Indian national arrested, charged with murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Homicide investigators in B.C. say murder charges have been laid against a fourth Indian national in connection to the killing of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar outside a Surrey gurdwara last year.
RCMP boss expresses desire for new law to deal with threats against politicians
RCMP commissioner Mike Duheme says he wants the government to look at drafting a new law that would make it easier for police to pursue charges against people who threaten elected officials.