Get your booster here, says Hamilton walk-in vaccine clinic after miscommunication leaves it unlisted

Mission Services at 196 Wentworth Street North in Hamilton was staffed and ready to vaccinate people against COVID-19 — but unlike last Wednesday, when Dr. Kerry Beal said there were was a serpentine line of people eager to get a shot, there was no one waiting on Wednesday. The clinic opened at 11 a.m. and by early afternoon, it was still lacking attendees. 

Why?

It wasn't listed by Hamilton Public Health Services, said Beal, a lead physician of the Shelter Health Network. She said it was likely an honest mistake caused when the Shelter Health Network tried to get another clinic unlisted.

"Today we're prepared to do a couple hundred and we're sitting here waiting," Beal told CBC Hamilton on Wednesday.

"We've only done ... somewhere around 70."

The clinic will stay open until 3 p.m., Beal said. 

This comes as locals have been desperately trying to book appointments to get a third vaccine while COVID-19's Omicron variant continues to spread at a fast pace.

Beal said the demand for the booster is surprising given "how much we fought them to get the other two doses."

"I just theoretically had four days off ... I didn't have four days off. The phone didn't stop ringing, the texts didn't stop going, it's been crazy," she said.

"The number of positive [test results] is phenomenal." 

Hamilton reported another 540 new cases Wednesday and one new death according to local public health data, but actual case counts are much higher because of long waits for testing.

Local hospitalizations also doubled from at least 75 reported patients on Monday to 137 patients. 

Walk-in clinic open every Wednesday

The Mission Services walk-in clinic at 196 Wentworth Street North is open until 3 p.m. ET.

Beal said people need to come to the food bank entrance.

Anyone over 12 can attend and Beal said they have Pfizer and Moderna.

"We do this every Wednesday here," she said.

Hamilton public health received criticism from at least one local doctor last week for not offering walk-in vaccination clinics the way primary care-led clinics do.

"I had long periods of time with nothing to do, looking at all the empty chairs in this huge space," Dr. Jill Wiwcharuk, an inner city family doctor.

"Third doses are fast to give ... we could be vaccinating many more times the numbers now if public health opened clinics to walk-ins for third doses."

Hamilton public health said booked appointments are more effective right now but it welcomed feedback.