NWHU led COVID-19 vaccine clinics underway in Sioux Lookout, vaccine clinics full across NWHU region
Tim Brody - Editor
The Northwestern Health Unit (NWHU) is advising that all COVID-19 vaccine clinics across the region are now full for the next two weeks.
“Due to Moderna vaccine supply shortages, some clinic dates must be changed and those people affected by this change will be contacted by NWHU to reschedule their appointment,” a news release from NWHU informed on March 29.
“Although there are currently no appointments available in clinics, vaccine is expected to arrive within the next two weeks and more slots will be uploaded to the booking system at that time. NWHU will advertise widely when appointments are available.”
The first Northwestern Health Unit (NWHU) led COVID-19 vaccine clinic in Sioux Lookout is scheduled to take place on April 1 for eligible populations.
Currently, eligible groups in our area include:
- Anyone aged 75 years or older (anyone born in 1946 or earlier)
- Health Care Workers, including staff who work in congregate living settings
- Adult Home Care
- Recipients
- Faith leaders who provide end of life care, care of the deceased, funerals, home visits to unwell persons, or pastoral care in hospitals, LTCH, etc.
- Indigenous adults, including Metis (and their household members)
NWHU will update this list as other groups become eligible as per the provincial vaccine distribution plan.
NWHU led vaccine clinics will continue until everyone who wishes to receive the vaccine is able to do so.
The Northwestern Health Unit (NWHU) catchment area moved to the Red–Control zone of the province’s COVID-19 Response Framework as of March 15 at 12:01 a.m. due to an increase in COVID-19 cases across the region, and remains in the Red – Control zone.
NWHU Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kit Young-Hoon shared, “I would like to remind the public that the colour of our region is based on a few factors including:
Case numbers
Weekly statistics
The number of outbreaks, particularly in high-risk settings such as long-term care homes and hospitals
And also the capacity of the local public health unit and the capacity of the health care services sector”
As of March 29, NWHU was reporting 35 active COVID-19 cases in its catchment area, a significant drop from the 74 active cases it reported on March 22.
Active cases as of March 29 are: seven in the Dryden Health Hub, 13 in the Kenora Health Hub and 15 in the Sioux Lookout Health Hub.
As Easter and spring break approach, northern Medical Officers of Health are asking people to work together to prevent another surge of COVID-19.
Actions being recommended for families and households include:
Stay 2 metres apart from anyone you don’t live with.
Have symptoms? Get tested straight away, and until you have results, you and everyone else you live with must stay home
Avoid non-essential travel or receiving visitors, especially between different colour zones.
Outbreak prevention tips for local businesses include:
- Follow the regulations of your local zone and stay as contactless as possible
- Keep your guard up, even on breaks: stay distanced and masked in break rooms, staff areas, and carpools.
- Screen everyone. Every day.
“We know that everyone has made tremendous sacrifices for over a year. And there is ongoing hope, as more vaccine becomes available, week by week. At this very moment in time, however, the vast majority of our community members are not yet immunized. This means risky activities like gatherings and travel must still be avoided by all.
“To protect the most vulnerable in our communities, and to stop the surge from overwhelming our local hospitals and frontline health care workers, we are calling on all northern Ontarians to each do our part to keep our families and communities safe. And we ask everyone to do this with the spirit of kindness and perseverance that has been such a tremendous and vital part of our northern communities’ response to the pandemic,” a news release issued by the northern Medical Officers of Health stated.
