Mobile vaccination clinics continue to be well-received locally.
That from the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit.
Andrea McLellan, Director of COVID-19 Immunization Strategy, says there are several reasons, including the province’s vaccine certificate program.
“I believe the vaccine passport has had an impact on the number of people that are coming to our buses. Some people do identify that they are there because of the vaccine passport,” she says.
McLellan says other people have said the clinics were more convenient for them, in terms of location.
She says over 170 people took advantage of Wednesday’s clinic in North Bay, despite the rain.
“It has been very successful. Most bus clinics we’ve had really good uptake at, there’s been a good mix of first and second doses at the clinic, sometimes it’s half and half, sometimes it’s actually more first dose than second dose,” McLellan says.
As of 3 pm Wednesday, 84 percent of residents 12 and older have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
77 percent are fully vaccinated.
With the implementation of the province’s vaccine certificate program on Wednesday, Dr. Jim Chirico, Medical Officer of Health says there has been some confusion about the requirements.
“Your vaccine receipt that was emailed to you after receiving your second vaccine is the proof you need, along with your ID,” he says.
The Health Unit says businesses requiring proof of vaccination include:
- Indoor areas of restaurants, bars, and other food and drink establishments without dance facilities.
- Indoor and outdoor areas of food or drink establishments with dance facilities, including nightclubs, restoclubs, and other similar establishments.
- Indoor areas of meeting and event spaces with limited exceptions.
- Indoor areas of facilities used for sports and recreational fitness activities, including waterparks, and personal physical fitness training with limited exemptions (Includes gyms, fitness/sporting/recreational facilities, pools, leagues, sporting events, waterparks, and indoor areas of facilities where spectators watch events)
- Indoor areas of casinos, bingo halls, and other gaming establishments.
- Indoor areas of concert venues, theatres, and cinemas.
- Indoor areas of bathhouses, sex clubs and strip clubs.
- Indoor areas of horse racing tracks, car racing tracks and other similar venues.
- Indoor areas where commercial film and TV productions take place with studio audiences.
Although some of the receipts do have watermarks, watermark is not required. Businesses must verify if the receipt is either:
- An Ontario receipt issued at the time of vaccination or downloaded after.
- A receipt signed by an Indigenous Health Provider OR
- A receipt from another jurisdiction that shows the holder is fully vaccinated against COVID-19.