Horwath pleased with second-dose victory, but says booking chaos shouldn’t be repeated

HAMILTON — NDP Leader Andrea Horwath is extremely pleased that second doses will be sped up — something she’s been calling for — but says the booking and re-booking of second-dose appointments should not be the same chaotic vaccine scavenger hunt of the first round — especially for seniors.

“Getting the first dose of the COVID vaccines was the hunger games for millions of Ontarians. They got conflicting information, if they got any information at all. They lined up for hours. They turned to the volunteer Vaccine Hunters on social media when their government failed them. Doug Ford had many months to figure this out and invest in a proper system, and instead he chose to let people scramble.

“Now Doug Ford is planning to repeat that. He’s not putting an ounce of effort or investment into making second-dose booking better for people. This especially puts seniors at a disadvantage.”

Millions of Ontarians have second-dose appointments that need to be rebooked; and millions more have no appointment and may not know where they might get their second dose. There is no plan to assist seniors book or re-book their second dose. Ford’s plan is for everyone to scramble to book or re-book their own second dose.

Instead, Horwath wants to see a single, coordinated system to notify people when it’s their turn and what their options are.

“I’m thrilled that we’re cutting the gap between doses. I’ve been fighting for that because I think it’s the right thing to do,” said Horwath. “But let’s make sure there’s a plan for this round to be much better than the first.”