By Cecilia Nasmith

The third COVID-19 on-line interactive session hosted by the Ontario Health Team-Northumberland partners will take place Feb. 25, just as vaccines become available for priority populations in accordance with Phase 1 of the provincial distribution plan.

Many questions surround the roll-out. How do the vaccines work? Are they safe? How long does the immunization? How is distribution being handled, and when (and how) will it be offered to the general population?

These questions and more will be addressed during the 7 p.m. hour-long event on Feb. 25 by a panel of four members of the local health-care community.

They will begin with a brief overview of topics, including how the vaccines work to combat the virus, that status of local vaccine roll-out (and rough timelines for expanded distribution) and the partnerships in place to ensure a co-ordinated county-wide approach to mass vaccinations.

Panelists will then take questions from participating members of the public, who can join the discussion directly via the Zoom platform to address queries to panelists and other OHT-N representatives (including both county hospitals, Northumberland Paramedics, community care agencies and long-term care providers).

You can also listen in by phone, though callers will be asked to submit their questions in advance.

“As vaccine supply continues to flow into Northumberland and distribution expands to the broader community, we hope that everyone who is eligible will roll-up their sleeves – in consultation with their health care provider – to help prevent further spread of COVID-19 in our community, and support the national movement to build widespread immunity,” OHT-N spokesman (and Northumberland Hills Hospital President and CEO) Linda Davis said in the announcement.

“We know that vaccination is the only foreseeable way to bring an end to the COVID-19 pandemic – it is a robust layer of PPE we can each don in building our collective defence against this virus.

“OHT-N partners are collaborating with the Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge District Health Unit and stand ready to support the priority work of local vaccine rollout in any way needed. As part of this vital collaboration, we look forward to sharing information and answering questions during this upcoming Virtual Forum to help members of the public make informed decisions about getting the COVID-19 vaccine, once available.”

Davis will serve as moderator for this session, whose presenters include HKPR District Health Unit Acting Medical Officer of Health Dr. Ian Gemmill, Northumberland Family Health Team pharmacist Karen Peters, and primary-care physician Dr. Emma Smith.

To connect via Zoom, visit zoom.us/join. To connect by phone, the toll-free number is 1-855-703-8985. For either option, the meeting ID number is 984 5373 8346, and the passcode number is 599866.

For those joining by phone, submit your questions in advance at info@ohtnorthumberland.ca or 1-800-354-7050 ext. 2335.

For Zoom participants, submit your questions during the event by using the Chat button.