Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit offers bivalent COVID vaccines to vulnerable groups – Barrie | Globalnews.ca

Vulnerable residents of the Simcoe Muskoka area can now access the Omicron-targeted COVID-19 vaccine.

The bivalent mRNA vaccine targets the original COVID-19 virus and the Omicron B1 variant and will help provide protection during the expected fall surge.

The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit is offering the booster shot to priority groups who are most at risk of hospitalization, serious illness or death from COVID-19 infection, including those aged 70 and older and long-term care residents.

From Tuesday, eligible persons can only receive the bivalent refresher by appointment at local GO-VAXX bus visits and in clinics of the health units.

The shot is available to people at the recommended interval of at least six months after their previous dose, or three months with informed consent, regardless of how many booster shots they have already received.

Appointments are available through the provincial COVID-19 immunization portal or by calling the provincial immunization contact center at 1-833-943-3900. Walk-in customers are currently not possible.

Eligible groups are First Nation adults, Inuit and Métis and their non-Indigenous household members 18 years and older, pregnant persons 18 years and older, and healthcare workers 18 years and older.

Persons aged 12 and over who are moderately to severely immunocompromised are also eligible to participate.

The health department said the Omicron-targeted booster dose could be offered to people ages 12 to 17 with moderate or severe immunodeficiency at the clinic’s discretion.

All residents 18 and older will be able to book appointments starting Monday, but those outside of the highest priority groups will not be eligible for appointments until September 26.

To prioritize distribution, the health unit is pausing new booster appointments for those ages 18 and older until September 26, when eligibility for bivalent boosters expands to those ages 18 and older.

Although no new appointments will be booked, all previously booked booster appointments for September 12-25 will be honored and, if available, the bivalent vaccine will be offered.

On Wednesday, the Department of Health is offering a one-day pop-up clinic from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Ontario Works Office at 136 Bayfield St., 4th floor in Barrie

COVID-19 vaccines for eligible individuals aged five years and older will only be available on a walk-in basis, including a limited supply of the bivalent booster for members of the priority groups, capacity permitting.

In addition, the RVH COVID-19 immunization clinic at Sperling Dr. 29 in Barrie continues to offer appointments booked on Tuesdays and Thursdays and walk-ins from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Appointments can also be booked with the Couchiching Ontario Health Team Clinic at the Orillia Soldier’s Memorial Hospital Kiwanis Building – West Entrance 170 Colborne St.W.