March 22, 2021 - The Thunder Bay District Health Unit (TBDHU) continues to roll-out the COVID-19 vaccination program in the TBDHU area. In partnership with the many health care, Indigenous and community partners both in Thunder Bay and District communities, to date more than 22,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered in the TBDHU catchment area. Over 19,000 of these are first doses.
“Making the vaccine available to our community is our focus and priority,” said Dr. Janet DeMille, Medical Officer of Health. “With our partners, we continue to expand delivery of immunizations to the current priority groups, while also preparing for Phase 2 groups.”
TBDHU has been working through the rollout of vaccine to Phase 1 priority groups, ensuring that vaccinations were moving forward concurrently on all priorities and that all available supply is administered quickly. Some highlights of this rollout to date include:
- Vaccines have been delivered to seniors living in congregate settings (such as Long-term Care and retirement homes) across the Thunder Bay District.
- In March, TBDHU began delivery of COVID-19 immunizations to adults in the community over the age of 80.
- The clinic at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre has successfully immunized a large number of health care workers and others at risk, as well as other targeted priority groups.
- In partnership with Indigenous health care partners and community leadership, delivery of immunizations is well underway to 14 First Nation communities in the region; with delivery to urban Indigenous populations to be operationalized very soon.
- TBDHU is partnering with Family Health Teams throughout the District to deliver vaccines to the Phase 1 priority groups in all District communities.
Following a significant slowdown in vaccine supply in January and February, supply in recent weeks has increased, with further increases expected in April. Through various partnerships, TBDHU aims to ensure that vaccine is distributed and administered efficiently throughout the region and priority groups.
The planning efforts needed to bring the COVID-19 vaccine to all communities and people are extensive and benefit from a significant amount of collaboration with various sectors, such as health care, community, and Indigenous partners. TBDHU is working diligently with these partners across the region.
TBDHU encourages everyone, whether you have been vaccinated or not, to continue following all public health measures to protect the health of individuals and our health system. If you develop any COVID-19 symptoms, even mild ones, isolate immediately and arrange to get tested at your local assessment centre.
For additional information about COVID-19 and the TBDHU area, please see the TBDHU Website.
Visit Ontario's website to learn more about how the province continues to protect Ontarians from COVID-19.
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For more information - Health Unit Media: news@tbdhu.com.