The Ottawa area's weekly COVID-19 vaccination checkup: Nov. 4

Third dose guidance and international travel rules are changing

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Caption: People now have to be fully vaccinated to board a plane, train or marine vessel in Canada and as of Monday, travel rules change when going to the United States. (Jean Delisle/CBC)

Highlights:
  • Ontario is significantly expanding its third vaccine dose plans.
  • Quebec prepares to further loosen rules, backs down on health-care vaccinations.
  • International travel rules are changing early this month.
  • Ottawa and Quebec share plans to vaccinate children as young as five.
Every Thursday, CBC Ottawa brings you this roundup of COVID-19 vaccination developments throughout the region. You can find more information through links at the bottom of the page.
There have been more than 3.6 million doses administered in the wider Ottawa-Gatineau region, which has about 2.3 million residents.
That's about 25,000 doses in the last week — roughly the same as the week before that, but now including most local health units adding information about third doses.

Provincial picture

Ontario is expanding its third dose eligibility, with some groups eligible to book on Saturday and all eligible residents eventually eligible next year. Two doses will still be enough to be considered fully vaccinated.
Quebec hasn't made changes yet to its third dose strategy.
WATCH | What the national task force recommended:

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Quebec's bars and restaurants are allowed to reach full capacity and hours under the vaccine passport and a one-metre distancing rule. More changes are coming Nov. 15 in places such as schools, bars, gyms and ski hills.
It's another government getting its ducks in a row for when the eligible vaccine age is lowered.
Ontario will not require students to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to attend school, nor will it add a provincial health-care vaccine mandate on top of local ones.
Quebec has backed down again on mandatory vaccinations in its health network.
Ninety-one per cent of eligible Quebec residents have had at least one dose and 88 per cent are fully vaccinated.
Eighty-eight per cent of Ontario residents age 12 and up have at least one vaccine dose, while about 85 per cent are fully vaccinated.

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Travellers must be vaccinated to board a plane, train or marine vessel in Canada. Partially vaccinated travellers can show proof of a valid COVID-19 molecular test until Nov. 29.
Fully vaccinated travellers entering the United States by land from Canada will not need to present a negative COVID-19 test when the border reopens Monday.

Ottawa

Ottawa Public Health has shared its plans for a "rapid push" to vaccinate kids as young as five when a vaccine is approved for them, including an online hub(external link) for parents.
The capital still has regular and pop-up clinics(external link) for anyone eligible to get a first, second or third dose, has neighbourhood vaccine hubs(external link), and is bringing mobile vaccine clinics to those who request it(external link).

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More than 1.6 million doses(external link) have now been given to Ottawa residents.
Of the city's total population of just over one million, 79 per cent of residents have had at least one dose, including 90 per cent of residents born in 2009 or earlier.
Seventy-six per cent of the total population is fully vaccinated, as are 87 per cent of eligible residents.

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The city has extended its staff vaccination deadline to Nov. 15, saying the extra time will help encourage people who have been hesitant.
The need to have resources at COVID-19 vaccine clinics means a different flu vaccine strategy this year.

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Caption: This combined bar and line graph shows vaccination numbers for Ottawa residents born in 2009 or earlier. Every age demographic is at least around 90 per cent fully vaccinated except for two: 18 to 29 and 30 to 39, each closer to 75 per cent. (Ottawa Public Health)

Western Quebec

CISSSO continues to list recurring, mobile and pop-up clinics(external link) online.
The Outaouais has distributed about 604,000 doses — combined first, second and third — among a population of about 386,000.

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Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington

It's managing smaller clinics and mobile clinics to better reach areas with lower vaccination rates, with options shared regularly online(external link) and on its social feeds.
The health unit has now given a first dose to just under 90 per cent of its population 12 and older, and about 86 per cent of eligible people have been fully vaccinated.
The region, with a population of about 213,000, has had about 335,000 vaccine doses — combined first, second and third — given to residents.
More than 2,500 residents have had a third dose.
WATCH | A Q&A on third shot expansion:

Media Video | CBC News Ottawa : Ontario ski hills look forward to opening at full capacity

Caption: Lisa MacLeod, Ontario’s minister of heritage, tourism and sport, and Jim Hemlin, with Calabogie Peaks Resort, say lifting the capacity limit is welcome news for ski hills, which faced a shorter season with fewer guests under last year’s restrictions.

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Eastern Ontario Health Unit

More than 330,000 vaccine doses have been administered among a population of about 209,000, including about 3,600 third doses.
About 91 per cent of residents 12 and older are partially vaccinated, and about 87 per cent are fully vaccinated.
Details for its regular and pop-up vaccine clinics are regularly shared on its website(external link) and social media. It's currently accepting walk-ins for third doses(external link), though it encourages people to make an appointment when eligible.

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Leeds, Grenville and Lanark.

The health unit has given nearly 300,000 doses to residents, which now includes about 2,700 third doses.
It is seeing 98 per cent of its eligible population with at least one dose and about 95 per cent of those residents have at least two doses.
The unit is posting walk-up vaccine locations on Twitter(external link) and online(external link). Upcoming options include the ConnectWell Community Health Centre in Lanark on Friday and the Almonte General Hospital on Saturday.
Its Brockville clinic is moving to the Brockville Shopping Centre as of Tuesday.

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Hastings Prince Edward

There are regular clinics in Bancroft (which are appointment-only), Belleville and Picton. It lists community clinics on its website(external link).

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More than 262,000 doses have been administered to this area's residents, including more than 2,600 third doses.
Ninety per cent of the local population 12 and older at least has a first dose. Eighty-four per cent are fully vaccinated.

Renfrew County

The health unit regularly shares pop-up and walk-in clinic information online(external link). There are clinics Thursday by appointment only in Deep River and for walk-ins in Barry's Bay.
Its third dose booking opens Friday(external link), a day earlier than the province's launch.
With a population of about 109,000, Renfrew County has distributed more than 157,000 doses.
About 89 per cent of its eligible population, including military at Garrison Petawawa, have at least a first dose and about 85 per cent are fully vaccinated.
WATCH | Ontario ski hills look forward to opening at full capacity: