Delayed Pfizer delivery forces Outaouais vaccine clinics to halt bookings

Western Quebec's health authority says it's temporarily unable to schedule new COVID-19 vaccine appointments due to a delayed delivery of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine doses.

The delay has forced the Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux de l'Outaouais (CISSSO) to close appointments on the online booking system Clic-Santé, a Friday evening press release said.

Appointments that have already been scheduled will still be honoured, CISSSO said.

Vaccine clinics that are accepting walk-ins will continue to administer the Moderna vaccine.

Provincewide delay

In Quebec, 546,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine expected to arrive over the weekend will instead be delivered on June 24 or 25.

The delay is forcing walk-in clinics and emergency clinics throughout the province to temporarily stop offering the vaccine from June 19 to June 24.

CISSSO said Clic-Santé will reopen booking availability as soon as it receives its next delivery.

Minister of Public Services and Supply Anita Anand announced Friday that Canada should have enough vaccine doses on hand by the end of July to fully vaccinate every person eligible for a shot.