Three Chatham-Kent pharmacies are now offering the AstraZeneca vaccine to those 55 and older.
Chief Medical Officer Dr. David Colby says having drug stores added to the vaccine rollout locally is a big help, and moves towards offering more broad-scale immunizations at pharmacies and primary care clinics.
“This is the beginning of that transition, but we have no plans to close the mass vaccination center at the Bradley clinic or our outreach programs that serve the housebound, and will be operating what we’re calling pop-up clinics in some of the other communities in Chatham-Kent.”
Appointments are now being booked at the Rexall on St Clair Street in Chatham, Shoppers Drug Mart on Queen Street, and MacTavish Pharmacy on St George Street in Dresden.
“Herd immunity is a beautiful thing, and we’re really hoping to be able to get enough people vaccinated to be able to do that,” Dr. Colby says. “The easier it is for people to get vaccinated, the better it’ll be for everyone. I am totally supportive of this rollout to pharmacies and primary care, it’s just the beginning.”
Over the long weekend, EMS staff began offering immunizations to house-bound residents who are unable to make it to the mass vaccination clinic at the Bradley Centre.
