COVID-19 : Difficult access for vaccination in Chateauguay

The schedule openings to get vaccinated against COVId-19 were rapidly filled in Chateauguay. To the great harm of several people. Shortly after the opening of taking appointments on line, the site concerned showed itself to be filled for each of the days from March 18 to 30 for obtaining the vaccine at the 55-plus Centre building in Chateauguay. A message indicated: “Consult this site regularly, new openings will be posted soon.” At the moment of writing these lines on Friday, March 12, the grid was still full and the same message appeared. Some citizens indicated to Le Soleil that they were finally able to obtain an appointment in Chateauguay by returning to the site often and by noticing that a free berth had just appeared. However, the people concerned were able to obtain an appointment for a vaccination in Candiac, Ormstown or Valleyfield. It was an option that some Chateauguay residents had chosen, but not without displeasure. Several complained on the social networks and to Le Soleil that they were unable to obtain a vaccination near their homes. At the time this report was written, at noon Friday, Le Soleil had not obtained responses to questions on the subject addressed to the Monteregie-Centre CISSS the same morning of March 10. The Monteregie West CISSS has proposed an interview on the subject following our deadline. A follow-up will appear in a future edition. Minister Quebec Health Minister Christian Dube is encouraging citizens to return to the reservation site often or proceed by telephone. Vaccination openings open up daily, so check on an hourly basis, he let it be known. “Even 70-year-old people who have an appointment for later can get one earlier,” he noted. As for vaccinations given in pharmacies, it should start at the end of March or the beginning of April in 289 community pharmacies in the Monteregie, the office of Dube’s cabinet confirmed. (with Vicky Girard) Translation Dan Rosenburg