As of today, Quebec begins vaccinating seniors age 85 and up

MONTREAL – Starting today, Quebec residents born in 1936 or earlier are able to reserve appointments for COVID-19 vaccinations.

Quebec is one of the two provinces most affected by the novel coronavirus and the Montreal region is a priority, officials said.

Although appointments for the shot can be taken by phone at 1-877-644-4545, the government is strongly encouraging people reserve their spot through an online portal.

The move comes as the province, which has so far focused its vaccine campaign on seniors’ homes, seeks to inoculate as many residents 70 or older in an effort to protect them against dangerous new variants of the virus.

“This vaccination of the most vulnerable population is going to help us protect them from the most severe form of the disease,” said Dr. Mylene Drouin, who heads Montreal’s public health department.

Quebec has reported a total of 284,472 infections and 10,346 deaths linked to the virus. There are 7,988 active reported COVID-19 cases in the province.

Premier Francois Legault said the province’s vaccination plan is well underway: all long-term care residents, about half of residents in seniors homes and almost 200,000 health-care workers have received a first dose. The province has not begun giving second doses.

If all goes according to plan, all of Quebec’s oldest and most vulnerable seniors should be vaccinated within a few weeks, the premier said.

“We finally see the light at the end of the tunnel and it’s not so far away,” said Legault.

Legault, however, said Quebecers must continue to be careful, warning that it takes about three weeks for the vaccine to reach full effectiveness.