The province released its vaccine timelines last week, specifying anticipated vaccine rollout dates for age groups. Dr. Kit Young Hoon, medical officer of health at the Northwestern Health Unit (NWHU), said they expect rollout for northwestern Ontario to be a few weeks behind as it has been the case with other populations like long-term care home residents and staff.
Young Hoon said the NWHU will be focusing on second doses for those in the area who have already received their first does of the vaccine. This includes vaccinating staff, essential visitors, long-term care homes, elder residents and vaccinating highest priority health care workers.
The next vaccine shipment will not be until mid-March, Young Hoon adds.
“We encourage anyone 80 years or older who is immunocompromised, has an autoimmune disorder or has a severe allergic reaction to a vaccine or any of its components or its container to talk to their healthcare provider to see if they should get the COVID-19 vaccine,” Young Hoon said. “This step is needed before getting immunized at a clinic.”
Young Hoon said staff are currently having discussions about the location of mass vaccination clinics for residents so they are ready when the time comes.
“There are going to be mass clinics happening when we have a lot more vaccines,” Young Hoon said. “It’s not useful to do mass clinics when we only have a small amount of vaccines.”
The mass clinics will be located in many of the communities where the NWHU tends to set up flu shot clinics, Young Hoon said. These locations include Kenora, Dryden, Red Lake, Ear Falls, Ignace, Sioux Lookout, Rainy River, Emo, Sioux Narrows/Nester Falls, Fort Frances, Pickle Lake and Atikokan.
“In addition, we are supporting many of our agency partners who may be doing mass clinics or some type of community clinic in First Nation communities,” Young Hoon said.
One new case was reported in the Kenora region and in the Rainy River District on Friday. In addition, one case recently reported in Kenora is no longer considered a case.
As of Friday there are currently 70 active cases in the region, three in the Dryden/Red Lake region, 63 in the Kenora region, one in the Rainy River District and three in the Sioux Lookout region.
Young Hoon said that although the decrease in case numbers is encouraging, they are also still high when looked at in relation to numbers per capita for the Kenora region.
“It is important to recognize that because of those high case numbers, we have to be extra vigilant with respect to public health measures and continue following case and contact management recommendations,” Young Hoon said. “But I am hopeful that things will improve over the next week or two.”
Young Hoon said the NWHU has received many questions regarding the new school screening tool guidelines and would like to clarify that the new policy does not fall under the Class Section 22 order that was issued.
Enforcement measures would not be applied to household members, Young Hoon said, adding that the NWHU is not monitoring households, or enforcing the policy but rather are recommending it in light of limiting the variant of COVID-19 from spreading.
