Ottawa family doctor administers 500 COVID-19 vaccine doses during Jabapalooza
In the scorching heat and through the threat of rain, hundreds of Ottawa residents waited in line at Immaculata High School's soccer field to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
"It feels great getting my second dose,” said Marie, eager to travel to PEI in July.
It was the third Jabapalooza spearheaded by family physician, Dr. Nili Kaplan-Myrth. The Glebe doctor has been making a massive push to get shots in the arms of Ottawa residents.
"We’re immunizing 500 people today, Moderna as first doses and some seniors' second doses," she said.
Among those wrapping the track at Immaculata High School in Old Ottawa East was Katie Gibbs.
"I didn’t bring a hat, so this is now going to protect me from the sun," she said, referring to her umbrella.
The 37-year-old said standing in the sweltering heat is a fair price to pay for protection from COVID-19.
"I’m having a hard time believing this time has actually come," Gibbs said. "Pretty much everyone I know is vaccinated."
It’s not just the public still struggling to get their hands on doses of COVID-19 vaccine.
"Family doctors across Ontario should have been given vaccines right from the start so we can reach out to our own patients and book our own patients," said Kaplan-Myrth. "So people who don’t have a family doctor could go to public health and pharmacies."
Dr. Kaplan-Myrth says she secured 500 doses of Moderna from Ottawa Public Health after AstraZeneca doses, the vaccines administered during the first two Jabapalooza events, were put on hold.
As of Saturday, she says they’ll have administered 1,300 shots. Now, they need the province to come through with more for second doses that have been booked for as early as July.
"I don’t want to be begging for second doses to be sent to family medicines," Kaplan-Myrth said. "I’ve booked patients, I need the province to come through for family doctors."
With a Jabapalooza t-shirt, Gibbs is commemorating this moment, telling CTV News Ottawa it’s so much more than just a jab to the arm.
"As I told my son, it’s one step closer to doing things we used to do," said Gibbs.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
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.
Man arrested after allegedly caught trespassing at Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Toronto police say a man has been taken into custody after he was allegedly caught trespassing at Drake's mansion in Bridle Path Saturday afternoon.
Wildfire that forced evacuation of Fort Nelson, B.C., caused by tree falling on wires, mayor says
The wildfire that prompted the evacuation of more than 3,000 people near Fort Nelson, B.C., was caused by a tree falling on wires, according to the municipality's mayor.
Switzerland's Nemo wins 68th Eurovision Song Contest
Swiss singer Nemo won the 68th Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday night with “The Code,” an operatic ode to the singer’s journey toward embracing their nongender identity.
Couple randomly attacked, 1 stabbed, by group of teens in Toronto, police say
A man has been transported to hospital after police say he was stabbed in a random attack carried out by a group of teens in Toronto on Friday night.
'I am angry': Alberta farmers will continue fight over world class motorsport resort
The rolling hills leading to the hamlet of Rosebud are dotted with sprawling farms and cattle pastures -- and a sign sporting a simple message: No Race Track.
IN PICTURES Northern lights dance across the night sky in southern Ont.
From London, to Grand Bend, Collingwood and Guelph, here are some highlights of Friday night and Saturday morning's northern lights display.
Ron Ellis, who played over 1,000 games with Maple Leafs, dead at 79
Ron Ellis, who played over 1,000 games with the Toronto Maple Leafs and was a member of Canada's team at the 1972 Summit Series, has died at age 79.
opinion How to use your credit card as a powerful wealth-building tool
Irresponsibly using a credit card can land you in financial trouble, but personal finance columnist Christopher Liew says when used properly, it can be a powerful wealth-building tool that can help grow your credit profile and create new opportunities.