COVID-19: important information on the vaccination campaign
Now that the massive COVID-19 vaccination drive is in full swing in Quebec, the Réseau FADOQ is sharing crucial information to help seniors get vaccinated.
Currently, Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Côte-Nord, Laval, Montérégie, Montreal and Outaouais residents aged 60 and over can make an appointment to be vaccinated. Elsewhere in Quebec, people aged 65 and over can make an appointment to get their first dose of the vaccine.
An appointment for the second dose will be scheduled at the same time as the first shot.
The Réseau FADOQ is not providing transportation to vaccination centres. The Québec government is appealing to community organizations to reach out to the most fragile and isolated seniors.
Making an appointment
The Réseau FADOQ encourages all those who are in one of the vaccination priority groups to get a shot. This is the key to a gradual relaxing of lockdown measures.
Here is how to make an appointment to get vaccinated:
- Online (preferred method): www.quebec.ca/vaccincovid
- Telephone: 1 877-644-4545
- Have your health insurance card handy when making your appointment and when you go to get vaccinated
The next groups to be prioritized and the start of appointments for those people will be announced soon.
In the meantime, the FADOQ urges everyone to continue being careful. The COVID-19 vaccine reaches its full effect three weeks after administration, and new, more contagious variants are now circulating in the community.
“There is no reason to fear vaccination. The vaccines being administered have been rigorously reviewed at every step of Health Canada’s approval process. The real risk is catching the virus and developing complications,” says the president of Réseau FADOQ, Gisèle Tassé-Goodman.
Support person
Another important point: people who support a senior in the priority group may also be vaccinated if they meet these criteria:
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- They are aged 70 or over if they are helping someone aged 80 and over
- They support their relative or friend over 80 at least 3 days a week
A single support person may be vaccinated for each person in the priority group.
Family and friends of seniors are also being urged to offer assistance or accompaniment, especially to make appointments online or to facilitate transportation to vaccination sites.
“We have to be able to count on everyone—family caregivers, family and neighbours—to help seniors get vaccinated. The same goes for community groups, to provide transportation to seniors in every neighbourhood,” says Ms. Tassé-Goodman.