By Cecilia Nasmith
A mobile vaccination clinic is coming to Northumberland County.
The initiative is expected to begin about June 9, Northumberland Hills Hospital President and Chief Executive Officer Linda Davis said at the June board meeting, and it's one of the very first of its kind outside the province's usual hot zones.
“We are taking this clinic to some of the manufacturing areas in our community as well as the major retailers. It's being done as an opportunity to take the vaccine right to the individuals,” Davis said.
“(Northumberland-Peterborough South MPP) David Piccini was very good at putting our case forward, and the Ministry has agreed that Northumberland will be able to begin a mobile vaccine clinic.
“NHH has asked to be authorized, and it's being done with the support of the Ontario Health Team-Northumberland. We are hoping we can expand to two others within the Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge District Health Unit.”
Vaccine allocation is confirmed, she added – and it's even confirmed for the second doses of the people who will be receiving their first doses.
The initiative is expected to begin with large local manufacturers affiliated with the Northumberland Manufacturers' Association and, from there, potentially across the HKPR region.
“The injection will be given to individuals working at these sites, as well as their family members aged 12 and up. We can also give second doses to people 80 and over,” Davis said.
This is also seen as potentially beneficial to rural communities where large portions of the population may miss vaccination opportunities due to transportation or other accessibility challenges.
The OHT-N will oversee the effort, which will be carried out with clinical support from NHH and the network of volunteers rallied by local Rotarians and primary-care providers who have been working at existing mass-immunization clinics. The service will be provided through a mix of drive-through and on-site options depending on what best suits the needs at the site.
At this point, more than 18 manufacturers have expressed an interest in hosting the mobile clinic.
It's great news for the region, Piccini said in the press release.
“The plan to launch a mobile vaccine unit locally initiated from a request by the Northumberland Manufacturers' Association to help vaccinate their manufacturing workforce.
“Our government is supporting this and is proud to be working alongside the Ontario Health Team of Northumberland and our local health unit to make this a reality.”
Davis noted in the press release that first-dose vaccinations for Northumberland residents aged 12 and up has now surpassed 59%, so “the final push is on to get the vaccine to every local resident who wants one and put COVID-19 in the rear-view mirror.”
Direct outreach to targeted employers and communities is underway, with support from the NMA and area chambers of commerce, with more information on the OHT-N website.
