People will be able to get a COVID-19 vaccine and a flu shot at same time
Porcupine Health Unit officials are pleased with the COVID-19 vaccination rates in the Cochrane District. In a call with news media on Monday, Dr. Lianne Catton said the first dose rate is a percentage higher than the provincial average and a percentage lower for second doses.
With news from the province announcing a million more influenza vaccines this fall than last year, they are encouraging people to get both a flu shot and COVID-19 vaccine -- if they haven't already gotten one -- and said they can get them both at the same time.
"We’ll be rolling out that program with primary care pharmacy and our own vaccine clinics with the Porcupine Health Unit team and others across the region over the next few weeks and into November," said Dr. Lianne Catton, medical officer of health for the Porcupine Health Unit.
Catton also said families with children aged five to 11 years old can prepare to have them receive their COVID-19 vaccines once Health Canada approves it. She is expecting those clinics to begin in November.
And, when it comes to the abusive behaviour of some people lately at clinics, Catton said it won't be tolerated.
"Please put kindness first; put respect first; put the wellness of all our community members first. We need to come out of this stronger, not come out of it more divided," she said.
Timmins police officials said no charges have been laid yet against people for being uncivil at vaccine clinics, but a couple of weeks ago, they charged a man with trespassing for refusing to leave a local gym when he wouldn't show proof of vaccination.
"He was asked to leave; he refused, the police attended and he was escorted from the property," said Marc Depatie, communications coordinator for the Timmins Police Service.
Catton added, for the time being, the health unit has turned off the comment option on some of its social media posts as a result of what some people are saying. She said people can contact the health unit via email or telephone with their questions or concerns.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.