--- CISSSO confirms 8,000 registrants for COVID-19 vaccine in the region
On March 3, the Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux de l'Outaouais (CISSSO) confirmed that 8,000 members of the general public have registered for their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
The Quebec government announced in late February that Quebecers over the age of 80 could log on to their local centre intégré website to book an appointment. “We are asking people to arrive only a few minutes before their appointments,” said Nancy Héroux, director of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign, during an online press conference. She says the precaution is in place to avoid crowding at the vaccination site, located at the Palais des congrès de Gatineau. The official start of the vaccination campaign is March 10. Héroux says CISSSO awaits further information on pharmacies and their potential to administer vaccines in the coming months.
Vaccinations for priority people, such as residents in long-term care homes, began in January. However, concerns persist over why outbreaks of COVID-19 continue to occur in Outaouais long-term care homes where residents have received the shot. “We are in the middle of an investigation to determine the source [of the outbreaks],” said Benoît Major, CISSSO director of senior services.
Héroux says CISSSO is currently in possession of 20,000 doses and that persons 70 years of age and older will be able to register for an appointment in the coming weeks. Visit https://www.quebec.ca/en/health/health-issues/a-z/2019-coronavirus/progress-of-the-covid-19-vaccination/ for more information.
