By Cecilia Nasmith
Following a green light from the Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge District Health Unit, Northumberland Hills Hospital has begun its own COVID-29 Vaccine Clinic to provide Pfizer vaccine to staffers who have the highest risk of exposure to the virus – and for their counterparts from Campbellford Memorial, Haliburton Highlands and Ross Memorial hospitals until such time as their hospitals have clinics of their own.
These highest-priority physicians and midwives should be vaccination over the next five to seven days, according to the hospital press release.
“Front-line care providers across our system have shown, and continue to show, exceptional commitment to their patients throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, often under very challenging circumstances,” said NHH President and Chief Executive Officer Linda Davis, who is also the lead for the NHH interdisciplinary Vaccine Steering Committee.
“We are very relieved to have the first allotment of this vaccine available to us for distribution to those who are called upon to care for patients. We will work closely with our colleagues at HKPR and surrounding hospitals to ensure that highest-priority health-care workers in all four of our region's hospitals have access to the vaccine until such time that their own clinics are up and running.
“It's our privilege to support storage of this sensitive product in Northumberland and, as directed, vaccination of other Phase One health-care providers and priority populations in our region.”
Acting Medical Officer of Health Dr. Ian Gemmill extended thanks to NHH for their preparation and willingness to assume this responsibility.
“The hospital and its staff have worked with the local public health agency throughout this pandemic, and this is just another example of their commitment to the community and its residents,” Dr. Gemmill stated in the press release.
With the shipment of Pfizer vaccine to the two area hospitals that have appropriate freezer facilities – Ross Memorial and NHH – the health unit continues to provide vaccine to long-term-care homes and high-risk retirement residences to ensure their staff are vaccinated. Once additional vaccine arrives in the community, the health unit will continue to work with all its health-are partners to inoculate more residents of the region as identified by the provincial priority list.
“As vaccine supply continues to flow into Northumberland and distribution expands with the support of community partners, we hope that everyone who is eligible will roll up their sleeves to help prevent further spread of COVID-19 and build immunity,” Dr. Gemmill said.
