Alex Kurial/Local Journalism Initiative

There’s a new way to sign up for a Covid shot on short notice in Lambton County. 

Lambton Public Health rolled out a new Vaccine Standby List Thursday where people can sign up to receive either their first or second doses at a local Covid clinic if the person knows they’ll be available that day. After selecting a clinic in the morning, “you will be called if there are doses available at your preferred clinic, and you are available to travel to the clinic on short notice that day,” says Medical Officer of Health Dr. Sudit Ranade.

The waitlists will be cleared at 10 am every morning so people available on consecutive days will need to sign up each day. Public Health says space is limited and once the list is full for the day signups will close. 

The health unit also says “There are no guarantees that you will be called. The number of standby appointments is unpredictable, as it depends on the number of cancellations and no-shows.”

Only people currently eligible are asked to use the waitlist. Starting July 5 this includes 12-17 year-olds who received a Pfizer dose at least 28 days ago. 

For those looking to plan a shot there’s plenty of upcoming clinics with space. “Our Clearwater, Forest and Wyoming immunization clinics have many openings for appointments the week of July 12 and beyond,” says Ranade. “Please book a first dose appointment if you have not done so yet, and a second dose appointment as soon as you’re eligible.”

“Being fully vaccinated with two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine provides the best protection from the virus, and its highly transmissible Delta variant which is circulating in the community.”

July 7 in Lambton, 83,144 people had received a first dose and 49,563 were fully vaccinated. This accounts for 73.4 per cent of adults with one dose and 45.9 per cent with two doses. There’s 18.6 per cent of youth with one dose and 1.5 per cent with two.