The Ottawa area's weekly COVID-19 vaccination checkup: Nov. 4

Highlights:

• Ontario is significantly expanding itsthird vaccine dose plans.
• Quebec prepares to further loosen rules, backs down on health-care vaccinations.
• International travel rules are changing early this month.
• Ottawa and Quebec shareplans tovaccinatechildren as young as five.

Every Thursday, CBC Ottawa brings youthisroundup of COVID-19 vaccinationdevelopments throughoutthe region. You can find more information through links at the bottom of the page.

There have been more than3.6milliondoses administered in the wider Ottawa-Gatineau region, which has about 2.3 million residents.

That's about 25,000doses in the last week roughly the sameas the week before that,but nowincludingmost localhealth units adding information about third doses.

Provincial picture

Ontario is expanding its third dose eligibility, with some groups eligible to book on Saturday and all eligibleresidents eventually eligible next year. Two doses will still be enough to be considered fully vaccinated.

Quebec hasn't made changes yet to its third dose strategy.

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Quebec's bars and restaurantsare allowedto reach full capacity and hoursunder the vaccine passport and a one-metre distancingrule. More changes are comingNov. 15 in places such as schools, bars, gyms and ski hills.

It's another government getting its ducks in a row for when the eligible vaccine age is lowered.

Ontariowill not require students to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to attend school, nor will it add a provincial health-care vaccine mandate on top of local ones.

Quebec hasbackeddown again on mandatory vaccinations in its health network.

• Here are the noteworthy vaccine policies for Ottawa-Gatineau
• 95% of federal public servants fully vaccinated as mandate approaches

Ninety-oneper cent of eligible Quebec residents have had at least one dose and 88per cent are fully vaccinated.

Eighty-eight percent of Ontario residents age 12 and uphave at least one vaccine dose, while about 85per centare fully vaccinated.

Travellersmustbe vaccinatedto board a plane, train or marine vessel in Canada.Partially vaccinated travellerscan showproof of a valid COVID-19 molecular test until Nov. 29.

Fully vaccinated travellers entering the United States by land from Canada will not need to present a negative COVID-19 test when the border reopens Monday.

Ottawa

Ottawa Public Health hasshared its plans for a "rapid push" to vaccinate kids as young as five when a vaccine is approved for them, including an online hub for parents.

The capitalstill has regularandpop-up clinicsfor anyone eligible to get a first, second or third dose, has neighbourhood vaccine hubs,and isbringing mobile vaccine clinics to those who request it.

More than 1.6milliondoses have now been given to Ottawa residents.

Of the city's total population of just over one million, 79 per cent of residents have had at least one dose, including 90 per cent of residents born in 2009 or earlier.

Seventy-six per centof the total population is fully vaccinated, as are 87per centof eligible residents.

The city has extended its staff vaccination deadline to Nov. 15, saying the extra time will help encourage people who have been hesitant.

• Ottawa police change course, announce mandatory vaccine policy

The need to have resources at COVID-19 vaccine clinicsmeans a different flu vaccine strategy this year.

Western Quebec

CISSSOcontinues to list recurring,mobile and pop-upclinics online.

The Outaouais has distributed about604,000dosescombined first, second and third among a population of about 386,000.

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Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington

It's managing smaller clinics and mobile clinics to better reach areas with lower vaccination rates, with options shared regularly online and on its social feeds.

The health unit has now given a first dose to just under 90per cent of its population 12 and older, and about 86per cent of eligible people have been fully vaccinated.

The region, with a population of about 213,000,has had about 335,000 vaccine doses combined first, second and third given to residents.

More than 2,500residents have had a third dose.

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Ontario ski hills look forward to opening at full capacity

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Eastern Ontario Health Unit

More than 330,000 vaccine doses have been administered among a population of about 209,000, including about 3,600 third doses.

About 91 per cent ofresidents 12 and older arepartially vaccinated, and about 87per cent are fully vaccinated.

Details for its regular and pop-up vaccine clinics are regularly shared on its website and social media. It's currently accepting walk-ins for third doses, though itencourages people to make an appointment when eligible.

Leeds, Grenville and Lanark.

The health unit hasgiven nearly 300,000 doses to residents, which now includes about 2,700 third doses.

It is seeing 98per cent of its eligible population with at least one doseand about 95 per cent of those residents have at least twodoses.

The unit is posting walk-up vaccine locations on Twitterand online. Upcomingoptions includetheConnectWell Community Health Centre in Lanark on Friday and the Almonte General Hospital on Saturday.

Its Brockvilleclinic is moving to theBrockville Shopping Centre as of Tuesday.

Hastings Prince Edward

There are regular clinics in Bancroft (which are appointment-only),Belleville and Picton.It lists community clinics on its website.

More than 262,000doses have been administered to this area's residents, including more than 2,600 third doses.

Ninety per cent of thelocal population 12 and older at least has a first dose. Eighty-four per cent are fully vaccinated.

Renfrew County

The health unitregularly shares pop-up and walk-inclinic information online. Thereare clinics Thursday by appointment only in Deep River and for walk-ins in Barry's Bay.

Its third dose booking opens Friday, a day earlier than the province's launch.

With a population of about 109,000, Renfrew County hasdistributed more than 157,000 doses.

About89per centof its eligiblepopulation, including military at Garrison Petawawa,haveat least a first dose and about 85per cent are fully vaccinated.

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