Local demand for vaccine among those over 80 'off the charts'
The phone booking system was overwhelmed with 200,000 calls in two hours
Seniors looking for coveted vaccine appointments overwhelmed the Middlesex London Health Unit's booking system Tuesday morning, placing 200,000 calls and snapping up the first 5,000 spots within two hours.
The phone system — and the 10 people the health unit had set up to take calls — was overwhelmed and crashed, and many of those eligible were unable to get through when bookings opened at 8 a.m. Officials say 120,000 of those calls came within the first 20 minutes of the system going live.
"I apologize to everyone who called in and was not able to get through," Dr. Chris Mackie, the region's medical officer of health, said in a statement.
Those trying to book online had better luck, as that system was not overwhelmed, despite getting 30,000 hits on the website.
"The demand for vaccinations appointments this morning has been tremendous," said Mackie. "This is really off the charts."
The bookings were open to Indigenous people over 55 and others over 80.
"We know that this is a population that generally has been very supportive of vaccination," Mackie said. "I think it's a really good sign in the long term for making sure that people across our community will do the right thing, protect themselves, protect the families, protect the people they're in contact with by getting vaccinated."
The appointments begin March 6 and can be booked for either the Western Fair Agriplex in London or the Caradoc Community Centre in Mount Brydges. Because of the low vaccine supply, the system is only able to book appointments two weeks from the date booked.
Tomorrow, the online and phone system will re-open for March 17 appointments, and they're expected to go quickly. The system books appointments for those at the Western Fair Agriplex,
Rudi Gijzen, 91, and his wife, Gwen, 85, were able to get appointments for March 14, thanks to their son, Mark, who logged on when the online system opened at 7 a.m.
'A great relief'
"To be honest, I was expecting it to be clogged and to have a lot of problems, but it wasn't that bad at all," said Mark Gijzen.
"I think it's more tough on the younger people. We're used to staying at home. I used to go bicycling and walking but I don't do it anymore, so I think this is more of a hardship for young people," Rudi said. "Gwen and I are in fairly good health, all things considered. We don't worry about things."
Mark Gijzen does his parents' shopping and chores, but said not being able to have them over for dinner has been difficult.
"It'll be a great relief. They're the most vulnerable," Mark Gijzen said. "I think we're going to have to open up a bottle of Champagne."
