As of Monday morning the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit has vaccinated 4,467 people in our district.
Andrea McLellan, Director of the Health Unit’s COVID-19 Immunization Strategy, said Monday morning that the Health Unit is currently completing vaccinations for residents in long term care homes, First Nation Elder Care facilities and their staff, as well as alternate level of care patients in hospital who are now due for their second dose of the vaccine.
“Additionally, we are currently providing first dose vaccinations for staff and essential caregivers in retirement homes who wish to receive the vaccine,” said McLellan. “Planning for vaccine administration in the First Nation communities in our district is currently underway and the vaccine will begin to be distributed this week.”
McLellan added that through collaborations with various hospitals in the district, vaccination of the highest priority health care workers is also currently underway.
“We are now focusing on planning vaccine rollout to our highest and very high community priority health care workers as well as individuals 80 years of age and older. Vaccines will begin to be provided to these groups in the next few weeks. When available, details regarding clinic dates and times as well as how to book appointments through clinics will be shared through the media, social media, our website, and relevant health care associations,” added McLellan.
With both AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson vaccines now being approved for use in Canada, McLellan and the Health Unit is hoping they will speed up the rollout of vaccines throughout the district and in Northern Ontario.
“Things are beginning to move quickly regarding vaccinations and we will continue to provide regular updates to the community as more information becomes available,” finished McLellan.
The Health Unit announced today they will now be holding a press conference every Thursday morning at 10:00 am where a team of public health experts will be answering questions regarding vaccine rollout and also provide the latest pandemic response information.
The recording will be made available to the public on Thursday afternoons through social media.