Primary-care providers opening two vaccine clinics for Huron-Perth residents 55+
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Primary-care providers in Huron and Perth counties will be opening up two COVID-19 vaccine clinics for residents 55 years of age and older next week.
The clinics, which are being organized by Huron Perth public health and members of the Huron Perth mass vaccination advisory committee, will run April 20 at the Maitland Recreation Centre YMCA in Goderich and April 22 at the Rotary Complex in Stratford.
The clinics will offer the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine.
Other than age, there are no other eligibility requirements, organizers said in a press release Wednesday. Anyone born in 1966 or earlier can book an appointment.
Eligible residents are being encouraged to book their appointments online. Links to the booking portal can be found on the websites and social media accounts of primary-care providers in the area.
Phone calls to primary-care offices are not recommended.
“Primary-care offices remain very busy and, although we are here to help, there could be a significant delay in returning your call, and we encourage you to take this opportunity to be vaccinated,” organizers said.
Health Canada said Wednesday a new and extremely rare blood clotting syndrome may be linked to the AstraZeneca vaccine but the benefits of the vaccine still far outweigh the risks.
The conclusions come after the department’s drug regulatory experts completed a review of safety data, and are in line with those issued in Europe and the United Kingdom last week.
The decision comes the day after Canada reported its first-ever case of a blood clot in a patient who received the AstraZeneca vaccine in Quebec.
The syndrome, now known as VIPIT, occurs when the body’s immune system begins to attack blood platelets, leading to clots.
Scientists now know what is happening, but they haven’t yet been able to explain how the vaccine may be causing it.
Health Canada says there is no evidence showing certain people are more at risk than others, and the vaccine will remain authorized for all adults in Canada.
The National Advisory Committee on Immunization is reviewing this information and will decide if it needs to change its recommendation that the vaccine not be used on anyone under the age of 55.
-With files from Postmedia and The Canadian Press
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