15K appointments for third dose of COVID-19 begin this weekend

Algoma Public Health has announced over 15,000 new appointments for third doses of the COVID-19 vaccine will be available at the GFL Memorial Gardens on select days.

Following is a full release from APH on the dates and times available for third dose appointments:

Algoma Public Health (APH) and local health care partners are pleased to announce over 15,000 new appointments at GFL Memorial Gardens for third doses of the COVID-19 vaccine taking place on the following dates:

• Sunday, Dec. 19 to Thursday, Dec. 23
• Monday, Dec. 27
• Tuesday, Dec. 28
• Thursday, Dec. 30

Starting Friday, Dec. 17, 2021 at 9 a.m., Algoma residents eligible for a third dose are welcome to book an appointment at the new GFL clinic dates.

Algoma residents eligible for a 3rd dose include all people aged 18+, after at least 84 days (three months) have passed since their second dose.

A third dose of vaccine can be lifesaving for older adults and people who have vulnerable health conditions. Because not everyone 18+ can receive an appointment immediately, we ask all residents to help protect and prioritize fellow community members who are at highest risk. Please help older adults and vulnerable community members book an early vaccine appointment, so that they can be protected as soon as possible.

Emerging evidence suggests that although two doses of COVID-19 vaccine provide protection against severe disease and hospitalization from Omicron, vaccine effectiveness is reduced against this new variant of concern, and two doses of vaccine no longer provide strong protection against symptomatic infection. This means that people who have received two doses of COVID-19 vaccine can still be infected with the Omicron strain, and spread the infection to others.

Book an appointment at GFL

If you can, please book online so that phone lines are available for people who do not have access to the internet or are unable to book online.

• To book an appointment online, please visit this link and click on ‘book now’ under clinics under Sault Ste. Marie.
• To book an appointment by phone, call 705-541-7370 or 1-888-440-3730. Phone lines will be open Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Throughout Algoma, you can continue to search for a Vaccine Clinic in Algoma near you and follow the instructions for available clinics by municipality.

Book an appointment at a participating pharmacy

Third doses of COVID-19 vaccine are available from partic­­­­ipating pharmacies.

Need a ride?

Free transportation is available to access COVID-19 vaccine clinics in Sault Ste. Marie. Call PUC Services at 705-759-6522<tel:7057596522> once you have an appointment time confirmed and they will help you book safe, free transportation to and from your appointment. Accessible transportation is also available.

#StopTheSpread

This holiday season, in order to slow the spread of COVID-19, please continue to follow all Algoma-wide mandatory public health measures in place

Anyone who is sick, even with mild symptoms, must stay home and isolate away from others - regardless of whether you have received the COVID-19 vaccine.

Cut back on unnecessary activities where you have unmasked, face-to-face close contact with people you don't live with. Limit the size and number of social gatherings you have. Do this even if you have had two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, and especially if you have vulnerable health conditions or are not immunized.

Get your COVID-19 vaccine.