Excluding lower city pharmacies from COVID-19 vaccine rollout ‘reckless,’ Hamilton politicians say
Local politicians are expressing outrage" at the absence of lower city pharmacies in the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.
In a joint statement Monday, six officials blamed the province for not designating any pharmacies in the inner city for COVID vaccines, calling the decision nothing short of reckless."
This exclusion is incomprehensible and irresponsible given the risks in lower and inner-city Hamilton," says the statement signed by Matthew Green (MP Hamilton Centre), Andrea Horwath (MPP Hamilton Centre), and councillors Maureen Wilson (Ward 1), Jason Farr (Ward 2), Nrinder Nann (Ward 3) and Sam Merulla (Ward 4).
The lower city has denser neighbourhoods and residents who are more vulnerable to the impacts of the virus, the statement said, also pointing to a large number of essential workers in the area.
The Spectator reported in February that Hamilton's most racialized neighbourhoods were in areas with the highest incidence rates of COVID-19. Two of those neighbourhoods were downtown in Ward 2, and two were in west Hamilton's Ward 1.
On April 1, the Ford government announced 21 pharmacies in Hamilton would begin offering the AstraZeneca vaccine from as early as April 3.
Previously, Hamilton was part of a pilot project where 4,500 residents aged 60 and up were contacted by their family doctors to receive the vaccine from March 13 to April 2.
The Spectator has reached out to the province and Hamilton public health for comment.
More to come ...
Maria Iqbal's reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative. The funding allows her to report on stories focused on aging issues. Reach her via email: miqbal@thespec.com.
Hamilton pharmacies offering COVID vaccines
Costco
100 Legend Crt., Ancaster
1330 South Service Rd., Stoney Creek
Shoppers Drug Mart
133 King St. W., Dundas
1300 Garth St., west Mountain
47 Wilson St. W., Ancaster
75 Centennial Pkwy. N., east Hamilton
2110 Rymal Rd. E., Hannon
25 Hamilton Street North, Waterdown
Rexall
930 Upper Paradise Rd., west Mountain
640 Mohawk Rd. W., west Mountain
1119 Fennell Ave. E., east Mountain
1395 Upper Ottawa St., east Mountain
505 Rymal Rd. E., east Mountain
60 Hatt St., Dundas
Walmart
500 Centennial Pkwy. N., Stoney Creek
499 Mohawk Rd. E., east Mountain
Other
Waterdown Pharmacy - 145 Hamilton St. N., Unit 4, Waterdown
Pharmasave SuperCare Pharmacy - 410 Hwy 8, Stoney Creek
Westmount Pharmacy - 723 Rymal Rd. W., west Mountain
Binbrook Pharmacy - 3011 Hwy 56, Binbrook
Campbellville - 35 Crawford Cres., Campbellville