Booking Johnson & Johnson shot not as simple as calling your public health unit

Ontario announced last week that a limited supply of Johnson & Johnson viral-vector vaccines would be available to those who cannot receive the mRNA vaccine due to contraindications or those who are entirely unvaccinated.

In the news release the province sent out, it was noted that individuals would need to call their local public health unit in order to arrange for a shot of the single-dose vaccine.

CityNews reached out to the province’s Ministry of Health regarding availability of the vaccine and clarity on the booking process.

In a statement, they said the federal government has allocated 10,000 doses of J&J to Ontario, of which 2,500 have been received so far based on supply. They added that the province has requested additional doses in the short term.

“Due to limited supply, Public Health Units will be the ones providing the vaccines and will be able to order through a pull model (request as needed). If there is clinical need or a request to the Public Health Unit, the Public Health Unit can then order it for the purpose of administering Johnson & Johnson,” they said.

Booking with Public Health Units

Since the announcement, CityNews has heard from several viewers who say their calls to public health units have been met with skepticism and a severe lack of information.

Toronto Public Health

One viewer, who prefers to remain anonymous, tells CityNews she cannot take the mRNA vaccine due to contraindications and would like to get vaccinated as soon as possible. When she contacted Toronto Public Health (TPH) about getting the J&J vaccine, “they said they have no idea and do not have any.”

Toronto viewer Derrick Ferderber says he reached out to both Toronto and Peel public health and says he was given the runaround.

“One [person] would say ‘call here,’ another one would say ‘well you need to call there,’ — unfortunately nobody seems to have the right information,” he said.

CityNews reached out to Toronto Public Health and they say they have not received any doses of the J&J vaccine as yet.

“We continue to work with the provincial government to prepare for the arrival of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine doses in Toronto. We will continue to keep the public and media informed on how residents can get the Johnson & Johnson vaccine,” they said in a statement.

Toronto’s Associate Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Vinita Dubey, added that city staff is currently working on determining the exact criteria for receiving a J&J shot. She said there is simply not enough supply to provide them for everyone who wants one or refuses to take an mRNA vaccine.

“[It is for] those who really have a contraindication to getting a messenger RNA vaccine — they cannot get that vaccine, this is the only other vaccine that’s available for them. They will be given first dibs,” she said.

In addition, she said it is likely that the J&J shot will also require a booster dose in the future, so it is not the “one-and-done” vaccine people may perceive it to be.

The city will release more information about eligibility criteria once they know how many doses TPH will be receiving.

“It’s definitely very, very frustrating because [they should] provide the information when the stuff is available,” said Ferderber, adding that fielding numerous calls like his after the provincial announcement is a waste of resources for public health units.

“All the calls to the public health unit are for something they know nothing about when really, their time could be better utilized servicing people that they actually have information for,” he said.

Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit

Adrian Koenigs from Barrie tells CityNews when he heard the J&J vaccine would be available in Ontario, he began trying to book as soon as possible, as he is eager to join his wife in Florida for the winter.

He says he made close to 50 phone calls in attempts to locate a clinic that would give him the J&J shot, to no avail. He finally booked an appointment at a walk-in clinic, but when he asked for the J&J vaccine, he was turned away.

“The lady [at the clinic] was helpful, but she said we just don’t have it here and we’re not going to have it here and we can’t help you,” he said.

Koenigs finally had some luck Tuesday morning with the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU). He called them once again and this time was told he would be sent a referral form to fill out, which would essentially place him on a wait list.

“[They said] then we’ll call you when we have the vaccine,” he said.

In a statement, the SMDHU tells CityNews that they have added an online referral form to their website to be used by healthcare providers to refer patients “that are contraindicated to receive an mRNA vaccine and want to receive J&J vaccine, or patients who refuse to receive an mRNA vaccine as the recommended vaccine and want to receive J&J vaccine after informed consent.”

“Once the health unit has the vaccine and there are enough individuals to receive it to make use of a 5-dose vial, public health will follow up with the clients directly to make arrangements for them to come to a central location to receive the vaccine,” they said.

Southwestern Public Health Unit

Cheyyene Duffy from St. Thomas says she has had no luck with the Southwestern Public Health Unit (SWPHU) that serves her area. She also called the provincial vaccine hotline, but “they dismissed me very quickly, saying they’ve heard nothing about this, and ended the call.”

Duffy says she’s tried to get vaccinated six times and each time was told she cannot get an mRNA vaccine due to contraindications. She says she would have to wait until 2025 in order to see an allergist and be vaccinated under supervision.

The SWPHU tells CityNews they have not received J&J vaccines yet, but are expecting a small supply of 20 doses or less this week.

“We have been keeping a list of those who have called our COVID-19 Response Centre with a request, or who have been identified by a health care provider,” they said in a statement. “For now, those who live in the SWPH region who are interested in receiving the J&J vaccine can call 1-800-922-0096 x 9 to be added to a waiting list.”

They added that if supply increases, they will look into setting up a formal booking system.

Duffy says she’s called SWPHU several times and left messages, hoping to hear back soon.

Peel Public Health

Peel Public health tells CityNews that they have also been informed by the Ministry of Health that limited doses of the J&J vaccine will be made available to health units. They’ve been asked to determine how many doses they will need “based on demand from residents.”

“Peel Public Health will be inviting residents to request a dose on peelregion.ca to determine how many doses are required for the region and will request them from the Ministry once the information is collected,” they said in a statement.

York Region Public Health

Like other health units in the province, York Region Public Health also says they will be able to order the J&J vaccine on an “as-needed basis.”

“York Region is currently accepting names for a waitlist to receive this vaccine; individuals may add their name to the waitlist by calling Access York at 1-877-464-9675,” they said in a statement to CityNews.

They added that the vaccine will be offered at “a later date” at a York Region COVID-19 vaccine clinic.

It is expected that other public health units in the province will also follow a wait-list model for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, as doses will be provided to them based on the requirements of local residents and available supply.