Nova Scotia expands COVID-19 second shot eligibility; some experience problems re-booking
On the same day Nova Scotia expanded eligibility to reschedule second COVID-19 shots, some residents are expressing frustration about being unable to move theirs up.
The online booking system automatically scheduled second doses 105 days later when it was launched in March, but with a steady supply of extra doses, officials have been urging residents to re-book earlier when they are eligible.
Those who provided email addresses at the time of booking are being notified that way, but some of the mail apparently hasn't gone through.
Kevin Potter says his 90-year-old father and 88-year-old mother never received a notice.
"They never did get an email for some reason. And I've checked their trash in their email system and it appears they were never sent," Potter told CTV News from his home in Bedford, adding his father tried to re-book over the phone, but couldn't get through.
As it stands, the couple's second shots are booked for July.
The provincial government today announced Nova Scotians who received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine on or before May 1 and are scheduled to receive their second dose on or before Aug. 14 can reschedule their appointments for earlier dates.
As of Wednesday, 715,070 doses of COVID-19 vaccine had been administered, but only 58,854 Nova Scotians had received their second dose.
The CTV Vaccine Tracker finds that's just 6.8 per cent of the population.
"To see us basically last on second doses, it's pretty disheartening for Nova Scotians," said PC Leader Tim Houston.
"We went through the last few months we were last in first doses, and we only started to catch up because other provinces started to top-out."
But the province argues the rollout has been comparable with the rest of the country.
"Nova Scotia's vaccine rollout is in line with national averages," said Nova Scotia Health and Wellness spokesperson Marla MacInnis in a late afternoon email to CTV News.
"All provinces are in close proximity of each other in terms of achieving full vaccination. As our second dose rollout ramps up, Nova Scotians are encouraged to book their second dose sooner."
"The vaccine booking site is a public resource where anyone can search for a clinic or appointment location near them. People who provided an email address at the time of booking will receive a rescheduling notice by email. In order to schedule a second dose appointment you will need to use the rescheduling link provided by email or you can call 1-833-797-7772 if you are currently eligible."
Many seniors seem to have been successful in doing that, according to the Canadian Association of Retired Persons.
"Now, for the most part, people seem to be getting through OK, although there's some wait," CARP chief policy officer Bill VanGorder told CTV News.
But he noted some seniors have noticed social media posts featuring much younger residents also getting their second shots.
"They don't mind, they're happy everybody's getting them, but they're wondering why the age, oldest to youngest plan, seems to have kind of fallen off the rails a bit," he said.
Kevin Potter agrees the booking system does appear to be working well – for most.
"But if you're an exception like my parents appear to be, there's no easy to break through the government 1-800 system and the computer system to get a booking."
The number for the Nova Scotia government toll-free booking line is 1-833-797-7772.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'They needed people inside Air Canada:' Police announce arrests in Pearson gold heist
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
House admonishes ArriveCan contractor in rare parliamentary show of power
MPs enacted an extraordinary, rarely used parliamentary power on Wednesday, summonsing an ArriveCan contractor to appear before the House of Commons where he was admonished publicly and forced to provide answers to the questions MPs said he'd previously evaded.
Leafs star Auston Matthews finishes season with 69 goals
Auston Matthews won't be joining the NHL's 70-goal club this season.
Trump lawyers say Stormy Daniels refused subpoena outside a Brooklyn bar, papers left 'at her feet'
Donald Trump's legal team says it tried serving Stormy Daniels a subpoena as she arrived for an event at a bar in Brooklyn last month, but the porn actor, who is expected to be a witness at the former president's criminal trial, refused to take it and walked away.
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
Doug Ford calls on Ontario Speaker to reverse Queen's Park keffiyeh ban
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is calling on Speaker Ted Arnott to reverse a ban on keffiyehs at Queen's Park, describing the move as “needlessly” divisive.
'A living nightmare': Winnipeg woman sentenced following campaign of harassment against man after online date
A Winnipeg woman was sentenced to house arrest after a single date with a man she met online culminated in her harassing him for years, and spurred false allegations which resulted in the innocent man being arrested three times.
Woman who pressured boyfriend to kill his ex in 2000s granted absences from prison
A woman who pressured her boyfriend into killing his teenage ex more than a decade ago will be allowed to leave prison for weeks at a time.
Customers disappointed after email listing $60K Tim Hortons prize sent in error
Several Tim Horton’s customers are feeling great disappointment after being told by the company that an email stating they won a boat worth nearly $60,000 was sent in error.