Ontario health minister dismisses concerns over vaccine portal that prevents multiple bookings
Ontario's Health Minister is facing criticism after suggesting parents who have difficultly booking multiple children for a COVID-19 vaccine should "simply" call a provincial vaccine hotline to resolve their issue.
Several parents of children five to 11 took to social media, on Tuesday, to highlight an issue with the provincial booking website which prevented them from registering several children for a vaccine appointment at the same time forcing families to choose separate dates and locations for the same household.
NDP MPP Catherine Fife highlighted the concerns at Queen's Park and accused the Ford government of "messing up" vaccine distribution in the province.
"I don’t know if it’s news to this government, but there are many families with more than one child," Fife said during Question Period "Why did the government not get this plan right again when they designed the vaccine portal at the very start of this process?"
Health Minister Christine Elliott immediately dismissed it as not being a "serious concern" and said parents with multiple children now eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine should call the provincial booking hotline, instead of scheduling an appointment online.
"This is a problem that can be easily remedied by calling the line that one has always been able to call and making appointments for all two, three children, however many children you have," Elliott said.
"It’s not necessary to book them online for separate days. This could be done with a simple phone call."
READ MORE: What you need to know about booking a COVID-19 vaccine for your child in Ontario
Fife said the Minister's response was "flippant" and "disrespectful" to parents, some of whom, the NDP says, were forced to book appointments in separate regions for their children.
"The health minister basically admitted to designing a flawed program and if parents got frustrated, then they should just pick up the phone," Fife said.
A spokesperson for Elliott didn't provide clarity when asked by CTV News Toronto about the status of the issue but re-iterated the Minister's comments that parents could also go to a public health unit, pharmacy for multiple bookings.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
What to know about avian influenza in dairy cows and the risk to humans
Why is H5N1, or bird flu, a concern, how does it spread, and is there a vaccine? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about avian influenza.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
New Norad commander calls Canada's defence policy update 'very encouraging'
American troops will be spending more time training in the Far North, the new commander of Norad says, a strategy that fits 'hand-in-glove' with Canada's renewed focus on Arctic defence.
$70M Lotto Max winners kept prize a secret from family for 2 months
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Are Canadians getting sick from expired food?
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
Documents reveal Ottawa's efforts to get Loblaw, Walmart on board with grocery code
It was evident to the federal government as early as last fall that Loblaw and Walmart might be holdouts to the grocery code of conduct, jeopardizing the project's success.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Improve balance and build core strength with this exercise
When it comes to cardiovascular fitness, you may tend to focus on activities that move you forward, such as walking, running and cycling.