Renfrew County and District Health Unit (RCDHU) has confirmed that starting today, Jan.26, RCDHU will participate in the province’s automated calling program to encourage residents to obtain their booster dose COVID-19 vaccinations. If you have not received a booster dose, and it has been greater than 84 days since your second dose, you will receive an automated call from Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Kieran Moore.
In a media release today, RCDHU goes on to say that eligible RCD residents (18+) can expect to receive this automated booster dose encouragement call from a caller ID displaying the number 888 and “ONT GOVT” (for carriers that allow call display). Please note that calls will be batched to target cohorts of descending ages (e.g., the province will start with 65-69, then 60-64, etc.).
Media reports earlier this month said Ontario health officials expressed concern that some available appointments for COVID-19 vaccines were going unbooked and that demand may not be matching capacity. As of Jan.14, CP24 reported that an “analysis of daily vaccinations shows that while the province set a target of 200,000 to 300,000 shots per day back in mid-December, that mark has only been reached on four days since then.”
At that time Health Minister Christine Elliott’s office said, “Through more mass-vax sites, hospital clinics, employer-led clinics, pharmacies and primary care clinics, we have significantly scaled up our capacity to administer between 200,000 and 300,000 per day based on demand. The capacity is in place and appointments are available for Ontarians who want to get their vaccine sooner.”
Officials have urged people to get a booster shot as soon as possible as it offers stronger protection against the Omicron variant and boosters have been touted as one of the main weapons to fight the latest wave of infections.
Why wait for the call — do it now
Residents looking to get vaccinated or receive their booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine can walk-in to any RCDHU clinic (no appointment necessary) or book an appointment online through a local pharmacy or RCDHU’s website. To view the latest COVID-19 vaccination schedule, visit RCDHU’s COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout webpage or check out RCDHU’s social media profiles on Facebook and Twitter.
For more information, visit RCDHU’s website at https://www.rcdhu.com/novel-coronavirus-covid-19-vaccine-rollout/ or call 613-732-3629 or 1-800-267-1097.
RCDHU(2022,Jan.26) RCDHU Participating in Provincial Contact Centre Auto Dial Calls for Booster Doses [media release]
