Appointments for vaccinations open this week; variants suspected in the Montérégie

The vaccination campaign in the Montérégie is currently underway for priority groups, including people at a higher risk of being infected, developing complications and potentially dying from COVID-19.

The first four priority groups have now largely been vaccinated, including those living in long-term care residences, healthcare workers, those living in private seniors’ residences, and those living in isolated communities. As of Thursday Feb. 25, seniors who were born in 1936 or earlier (85-years and older), will now be able to make appointments to be vaccinated against the virus. Vaccinations for this group is expected to start on March 11.

Individuals who are accompanying those with an appointment may also receive the vaccine provided they are 70-years or older and are considered to be a caregiver for the person being vaccinated.

Appointments can be made online at: www.quebec.ca/vaccinCOVID or by calling 1-877-644-4545. At this time, the closest vaccination clinic to the Haut-Saint-Laurent is located in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield.

On the watch for variants

In a video posted online Monday, Dr. Julie Loslier, the director of the Direction de santé publique de la Montérégie, confirmed the presence of suspected cases of more contagious variants in the region. She suggests her team was not surprised by this finding as the variants are circulating nearby in Montreal and Laval. The variants, such as the one first identified in the United Kingdom, pose a risk as they are more easily spread from one person to another. “We want to avoid a third wave that is worse than the second at all costs,” she says.

Loslier continues to recommend closely following all public health measures, while highlighting the importance of getting tested quickly following the appearance of any symptoms. She suggests that due to the presence of variants, children should be kept in isolation during the upcoming March break, even if they are asymptomatic or have received a negative test.

There are currently 119 active outbreaks in the Montérégie, with the vast majority in school or work environments. There are 18 active cases in the MRC du Haut-Saint-Laurent, 22 in the MRC de Jardins-de-Napierville, 29 in the MRC de Beauharnois-Salaberry, and 130 in the MRC de Vaudreuil-Soulanges.