City of Ottawa - New vaccine wait-list tool for same-day openings at community clinics

 Beginning today, residents can now use an online tool to book last-minute, same-day COVID-19 vaccinations at community clinics in Ottawa. The tool allows eligible residents to sign up daily for a COVID-19 vaccine wait list to receive a first or second dose appointment. As appointments open up, Ottawa Public Health contacts the resident by text, email or phone.

All appointments are for unclaimed doses and could become available at any time of the day. You will be asked to arrive for your appointment by a particular time. You can choose to accept the appointment or not. The tool resets at 11:59 pm daily, so interested residents should register after that time each day.

The tool lets residents select their preferred area of the city: west, east or central. The clinics with last-minute openings each day may vary, depending on their vaccine availability.

Residents can access the wait-list tool to register.

All Ottawa residents age 12 or older are eligible to receive a first dose. You are eligible for a second dose of the vaccine if you:

• received your first dose on or before May 9
• received your first dose and are considered a highest-risk health care worker, as defined by the Province

The wait-list tool was initially implemented for highest risk health care workers and is now being expanded for use by all eligible residents. This tool helps residents receive a vaccine more quickly, and also helps the clinics operate more efficiently by enabling them to administer all of the vaccines prepared for use each day.

Community clinics are administering the mRNA vaccines (Moderna and Pfizer), and residents will be informed on-site which one they are receiving. Since interchanging vaccines is safe and effective, the priority is to receive two doses of any vaccine to complete the series and be fully protected.

Individuals who already have an appointment for a later date are eligible for the wait list. Those who secure an appointment through the wait-list will be asked to cancel the future appointment upon arrival at the clinic. If you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment for any other reason, visit the provincial booking system or use this tool.

For more information on City programs and services, visit ottawa.ca or call 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-2401). You can also connect with us through Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

City of Ottawa - Update on this week’s Pfizer vaccine supply

The Province of Ontario announced that the next shipment of the Pfizer mRNA vaccine to the City of Ottawa will be delayed. The shipment was to arrive on Monday, June 21. To ensure that vaccine appointments are honoured at immunization clinics over the coming week, the City and Ottawa Public Health will administer the Moderna mRNA vaccine as it is interchangeable with Pfizer.

Beginning today, individuals 18 years or older who have an appointment booked at one of the city-run immunization clinics will receive a Moderna vaccine. Interchanging vaccines is safe and effective. The priority is to receive two doses of a vaccine to complete the series and be fully protected.

Clinic staff will ensure residents are aware of which vaccine they will receive. However, there will be no opportunity for residents to request or switch to another type of vaccine. The limited Pfizer vaccine will be reserved for youth 12 to 17 years old.

Sign up for the COVID-19 vaccination update e-subscription for regular news on the vaccine roll-out.

For more information on City programs and services, visit ottawa.ca or call 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-2401). You can also connect with us through Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

City of Ottawa - More appointments now available for COVID-19 vaccines

 

New information

• Additional appointments
• Interchanging vaccines
• Expanded eligibility

More appointments are now available in the provincial booking system for Ottawa residents who still need a first dose or are eligible for a second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Additional appointments
Due to the additional supply that Ottawa has now received, we are able to add more appointments and almost double the number of clinic locations for residents. Appointments have been added across the city, including new clinics located at uOttawa (Minto Sports Complex), the Canadian Tire Centre (Gate 3), the Horticulture Building (Lansdowne), Canterbury Recreation Complex and the Nepean Sportsplex Curling Rink.

Residents can visit Ontario.ca/bookvaccine to access the provincial booking system or call the provincial vaccine booking line at 1-833-943-3900 between 8 am and 8 pm, seven days a week. Only book or call if you are eligible.

Residents are also invited to check back regularly as there are occasionally small numbers of additional appointments made available due to reallocation or cancellations.

Interchanging vaccines
Residents may receive a different second dose mRNA (Moderna or Pfizer) vaccine than their first dose at community clinics. Interchanging vaccines is safe and effective. The priority is to receive two doses of a vaccine to complete the series and be fully protected.

Residents who have received the AstraZeneca vaccine as their first dose have the option to book an appointment to receive an mRNA vaccine (Moderna or Pfizer) as a second dose at eight weeks instead of 12, should they wish to.

Current evidence shows that receiving an mRNA vaccine after receiving AstraZeneca as a first dose will provide a strong immune response and protection from COVID-19.

Those who prefer to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine as their second dose can contact the pharmacy or primary care provider where their first dose was administered. Residents are encouraged to speak with a healthcare provider or visit Ottawa Public Health’s Frequently Asked Questions page for more information.

You may also be able to book your vaccine appointment at a local pharmacy. Select primary care teams are also offering vaccines.

Expanded eligibility
Beginning Monday, June 21 at 8 am, all Ottawa residents 18 and above who received their first dose of an mRNa (Moderna or Pfizer) COVID-19 vaccine on or before May 9 will be eligible to book a second appointments at a community clinic.

Follow the City’s social media channels for updates on the provincial booking system. Sign up for the COVID-19 vaccination update e-subscription for regular news on the vaccine roll-out.
The City of Ottawa and Ottawa Public Health are committed to ensuring any resident who wants a COVID-19 vaccine will receive one. Thank you for your patience.

Visit ottawa.ca or OttawaPublicHealth.ca for more on Ottawa’s vaccination distribution plan, including information about:

• Accessibility
• First Nation, Métis and Inuit populations
• Pharmacies
• Second doses
• Transportation to and from appointments
• Health cards
• Health care workers

For more information on City programs and services, visit ottawa.ca or call 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-2401). You can also connect with us through Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

City of Ottawa - Priority neighbourhood pop-up clinics scheduled for June 21 to 28

 

More pop-up COVID-19 vaccination clinics for priority neighbourhoods for first and second doses have now been scheduled. These clinics are intended to raise vaccination rates in priority neighbourhoods and remove some barriers to accessing the vaccine. Pop-up clinics will continue while the need persists, and vaccine supply allows.

Upcoming pop-up clinics:

• Monday, June 21 – 12:15 pm to 7:00 pm
  
• AMA Community Centre – 1216 Hunt Club Rd.
  
  
• Tuesday, June 22 – 12:15 pm to 7:00 pm
  
• St. Joseph’s Adult High School – 330 Lajoie St.
  
  
• Wednesday, June 23 to Friday, June 25 – 12:15 pm to 7:00 pm
  
• Bayshore Shopping Centre – 100 Bayshore Dr., North Entrance #2
  
  
• Saturday, June 26 – 9:45 am to 4:30 pm
  
• Howard Darwin Centennial (Merivale) Arena – 1765 Merivale Rd.
  
  
• Sunday, June 27 – 9:45 am to 4:30 pm
  and Monday, June 28 – 12:15 pm to 7:00 pm
• AMA Community Centre – 1216 Hunt Club Rd.

First doses – For any priority neighbourhood resident aged 12+ at the time of vaccination.

Second doses – Effective Monday, June 21, for any priority neighbourhood resident aged 12+ who received their first dose of an mRNA vaccine (Moderna or Pfizer) on or before May 9, 2021. Some individuals can receive a second dose a minimum of 28 days after receiving an mRNA vaccine (Moderna or Pfizer), and minimum of 8 weeks after receiving Astra-Zeneca vaccine.

Residents may receive a different second dose mRNA (Moderna or Pfizer) vaccine than their first dose at community clinics. Interchanging vaccines is safe and effective. The priority is to receive two doses of a vaccine to complete the series and be fully protected.

Residents who have received the AstraZeneca vaccine as their first dose have the option to book an appointment to receive an mRNA vaccine (Moderna or Pfizer) as a second dose at eight weeks instead of 12, should they wish to.

Appointments can only be made in-person no earlier than two hours before the clinic opens, on a first come first served basis, while supply lasts. If there is a waiting period, residents may receive an appointment card with a time to return to the clinic for their vaccine.

Thanks to the Ottawa Health Team, Kids Come First Health Team and other local partners in the community for their support.

Residents in priority neighbourhoods may also be eligible for vaccination at the Bruyère Family Medicine Centre. Please visit bruyere.org to review eligibility and access their online booking tool.

Residents from outside priority neighbourhoods can visit Ontario.ca/bookvaccine to access the provincial booking system or call the provincial vaccine booking line at 1-833-943-3900 between 8 am and 8 pm, seven days a week to book an appointment at any of the community clinics in Ottawa.

You may also be able to book your vaccine appointment at a local pharmacy. Eligible residents should check with the pharmacy directly.

Select primary care teams are also offering vaccines. Contact your physician to learn more.

Sign up for the City’s COVID-19 vaccine newsletter to receive timely updates about these clinics and the City’s vaccine rollout.

Visit ottawa.ca or OttawaPublicHealth.ca for more information on Ottawa’s vaccination distribution plan.
For more information on City programs and services, visit ottawa.ca or call 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-2401). You can also connect with us through Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

City of Ottawa - Interchanging vaccines for COVID-19 second doses

Ottawa Public Health (OPH) encourages Ottawa residents to take the first COVID-19 vaccine available for your second dose to provide earlier two-dose protection which is recommended where variants of concern are circulating.

On June 1, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) updated its recommendations on the interchangeability of COVID-19 vaccines used in Canada. This means that you could receive one vaccine for your first dose and a different vaccine for your second dose to complete your COVID-19 vaccine series.

Interchanging vaccines is safe and effective and is not a new practice. Similar vaccines from different manufacturers are used when vaccine supply or public health programs change. Different vaccine products have been used to complete a vaccine series for influenza, hepatitis A, and others.

The priority is to receive two doses of a vaccine to complete the series and be fully protected. Both mRNA vaccines, Moderna and Pfizer, are made the same way. Getting the same vaccine for your first and second doses or getting one vaccine for your first dose and a different vaccine for your second dose (also called a “mixed schedule”), are both considered valid options.

Moderna and Pfizer have very similar effectiveness and side effects. The best vaccine you can get is the first one that is available to you and a second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine is needed for the best protection against COVID-19 and its more transmissible variants. All COVID-19 vaccines approved for use in Canada are safe and effective and they all reduce the risk of serious illness, hospitalization, and death, and will help with the control of COVID-19 in the community.

If you received AstraZeneca/COVISHIELD as your first dose, NACI recommends that you receive either AstraZeneca/COVISHIELD vaccine or an mRNA vaccine, such as Moderna or Pfizer, for your second dose. For more information on mixed vaccine schedules, please review NACI’s Interchangeability of Authorized COVID-19 Vaccines. Note that Ontario no longer offers AstraZeneca vaccine for those who have not received a first dose of AstraZeneca. For further information please contact your primary care provider.

Residents can visit Ontario.ca/bookvaccine to access the provincial booking system or call the provincial vaccine booking line at 1-833-943-3900 between 8 am and 8 pm, seven days a week. Only book or call if you are eligible. Everyone is eligible to book a second dose vaccination at the standard 16-week interval in Ontario, but only those living in certain congregate settings or with certain medical conditions, highest-risk healthcare workers and those vaccinated prior to April 18 are eligible to book at shortened dose intervals at this time in Ottawa.

You may also be able to book your vaccine appointment at a local pharmacy. Most pharmacies book appointments ahead of time and some allow walk-ins. Eligible residents should check with the pharmacy directly. Select primary care teams are also offering vaccines. Residents may also be eligible to book their second dose vaccination at a pop-up clinic or at Bruyère vaccine clinic. Please visit Bruyere.org to verify eligibility and book your appointment.

Follow the City’s social media channels for updates on the provincial booking system. Sign up for the COVID-19 vaccination update e-subscription for regular news on the vaccine roll-out.

Visit ottawa.ca or OttawaPublicHealth.ca  for more information on Ottawa’s vaccination distribution plan.

For more information on City programs and services, visit ottawa.ca or call 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-2401). You can also connect with us through Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Ottawa Public Library - OPL open to contactless services June 14

 Starting Monday, June 14, most Ottawa Public Library branches will offer indoor, contactless services, as part of Step 1 of the Province's three-step reopening plan.

Until then, curbside services (at the door) are in effect through to Sunday, June 13.

Visit BiblioOttawaLibrary.ca for more details.

Self-checkout holds

You will be able to enter the branch to pick up your holds from the shelf and check them out at self-checkout stations. There will be no in-person browsing.

Book drops are back

You will be able to return borrowed items anytime via book drops at all 31 open branches. Returns are now automatically removed from your account.

Public computers and printing

To access public computers, book a computer up to three days in advance online or by calling InfoService at 613-580-2940. Or, request a Chromebook loan of up to three hours from a Library employee. You can submit a print request remotely.

Masks

Wear a mask in public spaces, indoors and outdoors. For more information on the use of masks, please consult Ottawa Public Health.

Library tutorial 1:1

Book a 30-minute one-on-one consultation to get reading recommendations, help with eBooks, research assistance, and more. Contact InfoService by phone, email, or chat, or book a Library 1:1 session online.

City of Ottawa Recreation - June updates for Recreation and Cultural Facilities

 

Certification swim course

This summer would be a great time to focus on an aquatics certification. Certification registration is open now and courses include bronze star, bronze medallion, bronze cross, first aid, and national lifeguard courses, plus more. Taking certification courses is not only a great achievement but could lead to future employment opportunities with the City of Ottawa.

Outdoor swimming pools open

Make a splash in the sunshine as our outdoor swimming pools are open. The number of swimmers will be reduced for both public and lane swims and COVID-safety protocols will be in place. Reservations can be made at ottawa.ca/recreation for a one-hour session.

Wading pools open June 24

It’s time to get excited for the little ones, the wading pools open on June 24. Wading Pool Attendants are on duty during all operating hours to provide safety supervision at the pools. Reservations can be made for 30-minute sessions on-site at each wading pool location. Please refer to ottawa.ca/recreation for locations and opening times.

Beaches open June 19

Grab your sunscreen and head to the beach! The City’s beaches at Mooney’s Bay, Westboro, Britannia and Petrie Island will be open for supervised swimming starting Saturday, June 19. Please continue to practice public health measures. Lifeguards will be on duty daily from noon to 7 pm until August 29. Ottawa Public Health will conduct regular water quality testing. Check  Beach Water Quality Results - Ottawa Public Health for the latest water-quality results and no swimming advisories.  Beach accessible wheelchairs will be available on a first-come first serve basis.

Museums are offering self-guided tours

Step back in time at the Cumberland Heritage Village Museum who will be offering self-guided outdoor tours starting June 16. Pre-registration through the City’s website is suggested. Billings Estate National Historic Site will offer take-away tea service starting June 19. Stay on-site and have a picnic or enjoy your tea at home.

Learn bike basics, virtually

Cycling season is well and truly upon us, but do you know the basics of biking? Get introduced to, or build on your knowledge in, our child and adult Bike Basics workshops! Age starts at six years old. Following the link below, you'll find this one-hour virtual program on the left side of the webpage. In "Category" under "Browse for Activities" you’ll find our workshop dates under "sports", "Adult" and "Child". Register here: http://bit.ly/ottcityactivities

Sing for Hope

The Shepherds of Good Hope have unveiled their latest innovation in fundraising, Sing for Hope. They have brought together 11 local musicians to record a brand new version of the Beatles classic tune, Here Comes the Sun. Join in the fun on June 17 as they present Sing for Hope at 7 pm via a live stream as a virtual concert where not only will the musicians perform, but we will tell stories of our clients, frontline staff and volunteers. A minimum $25 donation as admission to Sing for Hope will provide 10 meals in our community kitchen. Visit www.sghottawa.com/sing for more information and tickets.