Can I get my CovID shot from my doctor’s office?

We know you are hoping to get your COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible and are seeking the latest information. Here is what we know now as of March 12, 2021.

AstraZeneca Vaccine: We have not received the AstraZeneca COVID vaccine in our clinic. The Astra Zeneca vaccine is being offered only to people ages 60-64 (if you are 60-64 as of the day of vaccination, or if you will be or have been 60-64 in 2021). It is available in pharmacies and some family doctors’ offices in certain health regions (not EOHU yet). We will let you know as soon as possible when the vaccine becomes available to us. Please do not call us to try to book an appointment. We need to keep our phone lines free for patients with immediate medical needs.

Vaccines for patients over 80 (born in 1941 or earlier):If you are 80 or older and do not live in a care home, your local public health unit will have details about vaccinations in your area. Please refer to your local health unit’s website weekly for updates. Provincial online system:Eligible residents will be able register for appointments starting on March 17. Stay tuned for link.

For more information about COVID vaccines visit the Ministry of Health website: https://covid-19.ontario.ca/covid-19-vaccines-ontario. Please be assured that we will let you know if we have any vaccine and if you are eligible to receive it from us. Please take the first vaccine offered to you.

COVID Updates

Do I Need to get tested?

Update On School Screening

The ever evolving story of COVID continues. Today the guidelines for kids and school changed and while the Ministry of Health is still in the process of updating their online screening app, here is a “brief” summary. Full PDF of the new screening guidelines is below.

• Children need to be screened every morning before school/daycare. This should also be considered by adults going into work.

• The symptoms should be NEW or, in the case of chronic conditions, WORSENING OR A CHANGE from their baseline.

If your child has ONE of the following (4) symptoms:

• fever greater than 37.8C and/or chills

• new cough (including croup) or worsening of the wheeze, increased requirements for puffers).

• decrease or loss of sense of smell or taste.

• nausea/vomiting/diarrhea

• lethargy, muscle aches, just “not well”

*** MUST STAY HOME, SELF ISOLATE AND CONTACT YOUR HEALTH PROVIDER who will likely direct you for COVID-19 testing.

If your child has TWO of the following symptoms:

• sore throat

• runny nose or nasal congestion

• headache

• nausea/vomiting/diarrhea

• lethargy, muscle aches, just “not well”

**MUST STAY HOME, SELF-ISOLATE AND CONTACT YOUR HEALTH PROVIDER who will likely direct you for COVID-19 testing.

If your child has ONE of the following symptoms:

• sore throat

• runny nose or nasal congestion

• headache

• nausea/vomiting/diarrhea

• lethargy, muscle aches, just “not well”

***MUST STAY HOME for 24hrs from the onset of symptoms for observation.

If they begin to feel WELL and the symptom count remains at ONE, they may return to school before resolution of the symptom, provided they are well enough to do so.

If the symptom WORSENS or if other symptoms develop, they MUST STAY HOME, SELF-ISOLATE and contact your health provider who will likely direct you for COVID-19 testing.

If you/child need to stay home based on a positive screening tool, you will likely need to be tested for COVID-19 OR self-isolate for 14 days from the onset of the symptoms.  It is your choice, LONG LINES or a LONG (2) weeks at home alone.  We CAN NOT provide an  ALTERNATIVE diagnosis to new COVID-like symptoms without a negative COVID test. We CAN NOT see you or your child in clinic if you have COVID-like symptoms without a negative COVID test. This is for the safety if all our patients and staff. 

Our staff however are always happy to speak with you over the phone/video and help direct your care however we can. Stay tuned for another post on “When can my child go back to school if told to stay home?”.