Hamilton reps call Doug Ford’s vaccine distribution ‘reckless’ after lower city pharmacies left out

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Published April 5, 2021 at 5:27 pm

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The Ontario government was blasted for its list of Hamilton pharmacies that were chosen to administer the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine to those aged 55 and over.

Despite the request of Hamilton Board of Public Health, not one of the 21 local pharmacies selected are located in the lower city— the area with the most at-risk individuals.

Six politicians representing Hamilton’s lower city issued a poignant statement to Ontario Premier Doug Ford on Monday (Apr. 5).

“We join with the residents of Lower Hamilton to express our outrage at the provincial government’s decision to exclude the lower city of Hamilton in their COVID-19 vaccine rollout via local pharmacies,” reads the statement.

“Despite the number of essential workers and vulnerable people living in these neighbourhoods, the province designated no pharmacies in inner-city communities for the community pharmacy locations rollout. This exclusion is incomprehensible and irresponsible given the risks in lower and inner-city Hamilton.”

The six representatives—Matthew Green MP, Hamilton Centre; Jason Farr, Ward 2 Councillor; Andrea Howarth MPP, Hamilton Centre; Nrinder Nann, Ward 3 Councillor; Maureen Wilson, Ward 1 Councillor; Sam Merulla, Ward 4 Councillor—called the decision “reckless.”

“This decision by Premier Doug Ford and the Ontario COVID Vaccine Distribution Task Force to leave out lower Hamilton is counter to the advice of our own Hamilton Board of Public Health – which provided feedback regarding the selection of pharmacies by local and the evidence-based impacts of COVID-19 on higher-density neighbourhoods experiencing the greatest social determinants of health – and is nothing short of reckless.”

The joint statement concludes with the representatives calling on the province to “reconsider their negligence, and supply pharmacies in lower city Hamilton with vaccines to protect residents.”

On Friday (Apr. 4), the Ontario government released the list of the 350 additional pharmacies that will be administering the vaccine.

The following is a list of eligible Hamilton pharmacies:

  • Binbrook Pharmacy (3011 Highway 56, Binbrook)
  • Campbellville Pharmacy (35 Crawford Cres, Campbellville)
  • Costco Pharmacy #1273 (1330 South Service Rd, Stoney Creek)
  • Costco Pharmacy #1105 (100 Legend Court, Ancaster)
  • Rexall #1743 (21-640 Mohawk Rd West, Hamilton)
  • Rexall #201 (60 Hatt St, Dundas)
  • Rexall #202 (930 Upper Paradise Road 13, Hamilton)
  • Rexall #203 (505 Rymal Rd East, Hamilton)
  • Rexall #204 (1395 Upper Ottawa St, Hamilton)
  • Rexall #8205 (1119 Fennell Ave, Hamilton)
  • Shoppers Drug Mart #1044 (47 Wilson Street West, Ancaster)
  • Shoppers Drug Mart #1054 (Ss4-255 Dundas Street East, Waterdown)
  • Shoppers Drug Mart #1056 (133 King St W, Dundas)
  • Shoppers Drug Mart #1233 (2110 Rymal Road East, Hannon)
  • Shoppers Drug Mart #755 (75 Centennial Parkway North, Hamilton)
  • Shoppers Drug Mart #1045 (1300 Garth St, Hamilton)
  • Supercare Pharmacy (410 Hwy 8, Stoney Creek)
  • Walmart Pharmacy #1154 (499 Mohawk Road East, Hamilton)
  • Walmart Pharmacy #3096 (500 Centennial Pkwy N, Stoney Creek)
  • Waterdown Pharmacy (4-145 Hamilton St N, Waterdown)
  • Westmount Pharmacy (200-723 Rymal Rd W, Hamilton)

Vaccinations with the AstraZeneca vaccine at pharmacies require an appointment to be made in advance: ontario.ca/pharmacycovidvaccine.

 

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