Nova Scotia improving COVID-19 vaccine booking system
Posted Apr 17, 2021 02:35:00 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Starting this weekend, Nova Scotia is improving its online and phone booking system for COVID-19 vaccine appointments.
“This weekend, we’ve been able to finalize some substantive changes to the appointment booking platforms,” Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia’s chief medical officer of health, said. “The online booking site now has an address look up tool that identifies locations close to somebody’s home address or whatever address they enter.
“That will tell them which clinics have available appointments and for which type of vaccine.”
Strang also said the province has added capacity to its phone booking system with more lines and operators.
This week, the province expanded from 50 phone lines to a total of 100. That means 100 callers can queue and hear estimated wait times while on hold for an operator.
If it reaches capacity, an automated message will inform callers the queue is full and to call back later.
“Once the number of calls exceed 120, anybody else calling in will get a busy signal,” Strang said.
Next week, the province is doubling the current number of staff answering the phone lines.
“We anticipate that all these improvements will make the booking process move even more quickly and have a better, less frustrating experience for people,” he said.
Health Canada has approved four COVID-19 vaccines for use in Canada: Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Janssen (Johnson & Johnson).
Currently, anyone in Nova Scotia over the age of 65 can book an appointment to get either the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.
Those between the ages of 55 and 64 are eligible to book appointments for the AstraZeneca vaccine.
On April 16, the 200,000th dose of COVID-19 vaccine was administered in Nova Scotia.
At the end of April 15, 15.9 per cent of Nova Scotians had one shot while 3.7 per cent had both doses.
By May, the province is aiming to immunize 85,000 people each week, as long as the expected supply is available.
According to Nova Scotia's COVID-19 website, the province aims to open appointments for the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines to those over the age of 55 in April.
People between the ages of 25 and 54 are anticipated to be eligible for bookings in May. Appointments for anyone younger are expected to open in June.
On April 16, Nova Scotia reported a death and a total of 42 active cases of COVID-19. The province has now had 67 COVID-related deaths.
