Library staff to help seniors book COVID-19 vaccine appointments at Waterloo region clinics
About 8,000 seniors who pre-registered asked to book appointments by phone
Staff at libraries across Waterloo region are now helping to book seniors in for COVID-19 vaccination appointments.
Waterloo regional police Deputy Chief Shirley Hilton, who heads the region's vaccine task force, said on Friday during a media briefing that people who are eligible for the vaccine and have pre-registered to book an appointment can be contacted in one of three ways when it's their time to book that appointment: By email, text or phone call.
She says about 8,000 people aged 80 and over have opted for phone calls, but finding staff to make those calls has been a challenge.
"We haven't been able to actually reach that particular population as fast as we would like, so with the assistance of our library staff, that's going to expedite those particular appointments," she said. "Well done to our library staff for stepping up and assisting with this task. It's a great asset to ensuring we have appointments booked efficiently."
Staff involved include Region of Waterloo Public Library, Idea Exchange in Cambridge, Waterloo Public Library and Kitchener Public Library.
As of Friday, more than 23,500 people had pre-registered for the vaccine in Waterloo region with more than 14,500 of them being people 80 years of age and older.
More clinics set to open
Currently there is one vaccination clinic for the public. It's located on The Boardwalk in Waterloo. It is by appointment only, so people cannot show up for a shot, and it's only available for people who are in the Phase One priority group set out by the province.
There is also a clinic at Grand River Hospital for health-care workers.
Another public vaccination site at a former Rona store in Cambridge is now expected to open the week of March 22. It was hoped the clinic could open next week, but Hilton says there is work that still needs to be done on the site to get it ready.
There are also plans to set up a vaccination site at the Langs community health centre in Cambridge. Hilton says that may open later this week.