COVID-19 vaccine clinics have started taking place throughout Leeds-Grenville.
On Tuesday, the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit began providing vaccines at on-going community clinics in Kemptville.
On Thursday, clinics will start in Almonte and over the next few days, they will also begin in Brockville and Smiths Falls.
Medical Officer Dr. Paula Stewart says in the past week, the health unit has been fairly successful in its vaccination rollout.
“We immunized 375 people for the first time, and did second doses for 562,” Dr. Stewart said. “Altogether, we’ve immunized almost 3,000 people with at least one dose so far and we are headed in the right direction for doing even more.”
For the next several months, the four clinics will be providing vaccines on a rotational basis by appointment only to specific groups.
Dr. Stewart says that includes people over the age of 80 in long-term care, and front line workers.
“Health care workers who have a high-risk of being exposed to COVID-19,” she said. “So people who work in ICU’s, emergency departments, and our paramedics in the community. They’ll be receiving their vaccines, and that’s who we’ll be starting with this week.”
Right now, the health unit only has a limited amount of the Pfizer vaccine, which is why the health unit is unable to accept walk-ins, and why selecting specific groups is necessary.
The province has also identified people over the age of 80 as a priority group to be inoculated as they are at a higher risk of serious health problems.
Stewart says once they have a bigger supply, there will be more flexibility and residents will also be able to go to vaccine clinics held at specific times and locations.
“Remember H1N1 when there were hundreds of people lining up, this will be so much easier because everyone will register ahead of time for the vaccine, you’ll know a particular time and place you’re going to go,” Dr. Stewart said. “All that information will be available on our website, so, just hang tight.”
The first week of March will focus on seniors over 80 living in long term care homes, and they will be followed by people over 80 who are living in the community.
For more information on how the vaccines will be distributed and administered, head here.
