Quebec COVID-19 vaccination campaign begins after Thanksgiving long weekend
Posted October 6, 2023 10:47 am.
Last Updated October 6, 2023 12:33 pm.
As we’re seeing an increase in COVID-19 cases circulating in the community, families may be gathering for Thanksgiving festivities over the long weekend.
Those eligible to receive the new COVID-19 vaccine can do so as of Tuesday October 10 by booking an appointment on Clic Santé .
The new vaccine is more tailored to the Omicron subvariants currently circulating.
“There’s good reason to believe that this vaccine is going to offer you good protection against what is currently circulating out there right now. The strategy that’s being used is not dissimilar from the strategy that’s used against the flu every year, which is you make a different vaccine every year to try to best match the vaccine to what’s actually circulating in the community,” explained Dr. Christopher Labos, in a previous interview with CityNews about the new vaccine.
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You can also get a flu vaccine at the same appointment, for those interested.
Anyone over the age of six months, that has not received a COVID-19 shot or contradicted the virus in the last six months, can get the vaccine free of charge.
Health authorities are urging those more at risks to get the new vaccine. This includes, people over the age of 60, those living in seniors homes, immunocompromised individuals, pregnant woman, and health care workers.
“It’s not just about mortality. It’s about reducing the burden of disease. You think you might be okay and you probably will, but you probably are not going to enjoy spending 16 hours waiting in the ER to be seen. And, in a health care system that is stretched as it is, we should probably be doing everything we can to limit the burden of disease. Not putting extra strain on a system that may not be able to cope with it,” explained Dr. Labos about why Quebecers should consider getting the new vaccine.
