“I’m a little disappointed, hoping to see more people coming,” said Lubna Fawaz, owner of Promed Pharmacy. Fawaz says less than 20 people have come for the dose since residents aged 60 and over became eligible last Thursday. According to Ottawa Public Health, more than 12,000 fourth installments have been delivered to Ottawa since last week. “Our wait is not the time, so we always welcome walks,” Fawaz said. “We used to go crazy with phone calls, but not now.” Experts say the fourth installment will help alleviate the sixth wave, which is expected to peak in May. “The fourth dose, which is accepted by many people, will soften the transmission to the community, which we want to limit the peak and extent of the sixth wave,” said Dr. Raywat Deonandan, an epidemiologist and associate professor at the University of Ottawa. As the county prepares for the sixth wave to peak, a new report from Ontario Public Health suggests that the recent increase in county hospitalizations is linked to the removal of the mask mandate. The body that adds test positive rates and confirmed cases is higher than during the pandemic to date. “We are looking at wastewater signals that are as high, if not higher, than the Omicron peak,” said Dr Deonandan. “It indicates that there is much more virus circulating now than at any other time during the pandemic.” Fawaz says she calls and emails those who took their third shot to see if they are interested in a fourth installment. Ottawa Public Health data show that 62 percent of residents 12 years of age and older have received the third shot. Ottawa residents aged 60 and over are eligible to make an appointment for a fourth installment. To make an appointment, visit the COVID-19 Vaccination Portal, call the Provincial Vaccine Communication Center at 1-833-943-3900 or check with local pharmacies for booster doses.
