Free taxi rides to vaccination clinics available in Sudbury
For the second time since the COVID-19 pandemic began, Lockerby Taxi and the Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce and Desjardins are offering free rides to vaccination clinics for those in need.
“Everybody was definitely appreciative of the program and they're amazed that it’s 100 per cent free of charge and they’re just very thankful for it,” said Irvin Armitage with Lockerby Taxi.
“Especially the older folks around us, money's a bit tight, they’re excited to be able to not have to worry about taking public transit, being out in the cold.”
Project GoVax launched last year in an effort to get more residents vaccinated. Debbi Nicholson, with the Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce, said the idea was brought forward by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce.
“We offered the program from mid-May to the beginning of August last year and during that period of time we offered about 640 free rides,” said Nicholson.
As of Jan. 24 at 4 p.m., 80.5 per cent of residents age five and older are fully vaccinated, 86.3 per cent age five or older have received at least one dose, and 50.6 per cent of eligible residents have received their booster shot.
While rates are high, officials said more needs to be done.
“Currently, we know that there is a high rate of vaccination, but there is a much lower rate of third booster shots and, of course, we still have the children who have yet to be vaccinated,” said Nicholson.
Armitage said Lockerby has received calls about Project GoVax prior to the relaunch.
“There are the people who want to get their boosters who maybe have trouble getting around, especially with these cold temperatures," he said.
"So this funding we received from Desjardins and our partners, it’s great to be able to offer to this to the community again,”
Desjardins provided $10,000 to help fund the project, which officials estimate will last about two months depending on the demand.
“The taxi pricing is mandated by the city’s bylaw – (they're) the ones who determine the taxi prices based on recommendations from taxi companies and consumers,” said Armitage.
“There’s no centralized vaccine clinic anymore, so it used to be here at the Countryside Arena or Carmichael Arena, but rough estimates if you’re going to the south end to Minnow Lake you’re looking at a $30 taxi ride.”
Residents looking to take advantage of Project GoVax must have a vaccination appointment booked ahead of time and are being asked to provide 24-48 hours notice to Lockerby Taxi.
“We’re just really happy to give back to the community that we’ve been a part of for over 40 years,” said Armitage.
“It’s just great to give back and it’s just great to be involved with our community partners to offer this to the people who can use it.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Indian envoy warns of 'big red line,' days after charges laid in Nijjar case
India's envoy to Canada insists relations between the two countries are positive overall, despite what he describes as 'a lot of noise.'
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
U.S. paused bomb shipment to Israel to signal concerns over Rafah invasion, official says
The U.S. paused a shipment of bombs to Israel last week over concerns that Israel was approaching a decision on launching a full-scale assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah against the wishes of the U.S.
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Northern Ont. woman makes 'eggstraordinary' find
A chicken farmer near Mattawa made an 'eggstraordinary' find Friday morning when she discovered one of her hens laid an egg close to three times the size of an average large chicken egg.
Susan Buckner, who played spirited cheerleader Patty Simcox in 'Grease,' dead at 72
Susan Buckner, best known for playing peppy Rydell High School cheerleader Patty Simcox in the 1978 classic movie musical 'Grease,' has died. She was 72.
Jeremy Skibicki has 'uphill battle' to prove he's not criminally responsible in Winnipeg killings: legal analysts
Accused killer Jeremy Skibicki could have a challenging time convincing a judge that he is not criminally responsible for the deaths of four Indigenous women, a legal analyst says.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
Alcohol believed to be a factor in boating incident after 2 men die: N.S. RCMP
Two Nova Scotia men are dead after a boat they were travelling in sank in the Annapolis River in Granville Centre, N.S., on Monday.