Otawa who registered more than 700 people in the planned Misa Doctor COVID-19 Booster Vaccine Clinic suddenly canceled the event on Monday and encouraged people who wished to receive a fourth dose but were not eligible to contact the MPP.
Dr. Nili Kaplan-Myrth told medical workers, social workers, frontline workers, grocery store clerks, parents, etc. who wish to receive a fourth dose of COVID. He said he wanted to be vaccinated. She has 19 vaccines, but is not eligible under current Ontario guidelines. On Friday, she learned that she had no access to the vaccine dose to do so.
"I'm ready. The only thing that prevents us is the lack of political will," she said. "There is really no rationale. Giving it to people over the age of 18 is not dangerous and we have a vaccine. If it saved one, it would be worth it."
Currently, in Ontario, only vulnerable people, including people over the age of 60, indigenous people and their families, and people living in long-term care facilities or retired homes, are given a fourth or second dose. You are eligible for a booster shot. Of the COVID-19 vaccine. Available to people over the age of 18 in Quebec and the United States.
Otawa University epidemiist Reywat Deonandan is one of those who question why the state has restricted access to fourth doses. In a tweet on Friday, he said the decision to do so was "generally arbitrary."
Kaplan-Myrth stated that he has already provided a fourth dose as needed for all patients over the age of 18. She claims that everyone is now at high risk.
"I define a high risk when they leave the house. That's true. At this point, no one is wearing a mask, so the risk is high."
When she advertised the planned "Java Parusa" clinic on Monday, she immediately heard that she wanted to be vaccinated by hundreds of people. She terminated her registration at 730, she said, because that was all she and the volunteers had time to do. Kaplan-Myrth, practicing at Glebe, has helped vacate thousands of people through a large outdoor clinic.
She said she was worried that some of Otawa Public Health's vaccines would soon expire and should be discarded. Said. She said OPH told her that she would give the pharmacy an additional dose.
Kaplan-Myrth does not meet state guidelines, but she received the last dose 6 months ago and worked and their children.
This is especially true now that COVID-19 transmissions are increasing in Otawa when almost all mask obligations have been withdrawn.
On Friday, Ottawa Public Health reported that there were 195 new cases of COVID-19 in the community in the last 3 days (most of them have not been tested, so this number is only one of the cases. Represents the department). It has also been reported that one COVID-related death and four new cases have occurred. Hospitalization also increased slightly.
This week, health officer Dr. Vera Etches said that infections in the city have increased again based on data including elevated levels of virus in the city's wastewater. I warned that there was.
Both Ottawa Public Health and the state are urging people to get a qualified number of vaccines. Only 53% of the residents of Ontario are receiving a third dose.
However, it makes sense that Kaplan-Myrth does not give a fourth dose to anyone who wants a fourth dose right now, especially those who work with the general public. Said not. She said the message from the state government was to wait until the next booster campaign until autumn.
Otawa Center NDPMPP Joel Harden said he was concerned that some vaccines would be wasted in the meantime.
"I am very worried that many vaccines could be wasted when there are people in need of protection right now."
He made a new oath to Health Minister Sylvia Jones and called on him to increase access to the fourth dose.
Pointing out that her previous role as a recruiter's general was related to public safety, Harden stated that the fourth dose increase was a public safety issue. rice field.
"This is an opportunity for her first action to stand up on that occasion. We need to put this vaccine in the hands of those in a difficult position."
In the statement, Dr. Associate Medical Officer of Health. Trevor Arnason said OPH's role is to distribute vaccines to doctors "according to the state's vaccine program."
Sign up to receive daily headline news from Ottawa Citizen, a division of Postmedia Network Inc.
Thank you for registering.
A welcome email will be sent. If you don't see it, check your junk folder.
The next issue of Ottawa Citizen Headline News will arrive in your inbox shortly.
