Regional vaccination clinics turn to 'standby list' in case of missed appointments, extra doses

The region's medical officer of health is assuring the public that local vaccination clinics are not sitting empty for a prolonged period of time.

Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang's comments come after online social media posts captured what appeared to be no line-ups or vacant seats at vaccination clinics in Ontario.

"We've seen news stories of clinics in other areas of the province empty or sitting empty for hours, this is not the case in Waterloo region," Wang said in a media briefing Thursday.

"In general, this doesn't happen. Yes, there are minor fluctuations, but there's a lot of work behind the scenes of members of the vaccine team who are watching the bookings and the vaccine supply like a hawk," she said.

"We've been good, by andlarge, filling our vaccine capacity, getting out our vaccine as fast as it's getting in."

More than 11 per cent of the region's population has already received a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine with about 82,000 doses administered as of Thursday.

Standby list helps fill gaps

The region said it monitors the allocation of vaccines based on booking and capacity. If there are cancellations, missed appointments or extra doses, the region will phonepeople who chose to be put on a "standby" list to be contacted at short notice.

"We are able to reach a larger population within a 20-minute drive to multiple clinics so that allows us to reach out to those people on the pre-registration list," said Bruce Lauckner, the region's chief administrative officer.

The region's registration system, which is independent from the provincial system, helps teams track numbers and trends in vaccines or missed appointments, he said.

Clinic officials will also try and accommodate people whenever possible. For example, the region said a citizen once showed up to the wrong clinic for their appointment, but they were still able to get in due to a previous, unrelated cancellation.

"There have been times where it's evened out," said Shirley Hilton, deputy chief for Waterloo regional police and head of the vaccine distribution task force.

Hilton reminded citizens that they can attend a clinic even if they don't live nearby. She encouraged people to seek out dates at other clinics if they don't find one immediately available.