Point Edward, ON – Lambton Public Health (LPH) is meeting formally with key stakeholders and other regular sub-groups twice a week to continue actively planning for COVID-19 vaccine implementation in Lambton County. A draft local COVID-19 Immunization Plan for Lambton County is in development and this plan will be shared broadly once finalized delivery dates are received from the Province. The local plan is based on the Ontario Vaccination Program and has been expanded to include specific details and data to assist with local implementation of the vaccine.
The broad goals of the COVID-19 Immunization Plan for Lambton County are:
- To prevent deaths due to COVID-19.
- To protect health and other systems.
- To build a level of population immunity that will enable the recovery of economic and social activities that are critical to the long-term health and well-being of the community.
“The vaccine implementation plan is our number one priority,” said Dr. Sudit Ranade, Medical Officer of Health for Lambton County. “We have the knowledge and expertise to deliver this vaccine as quickly as possible, as we have done every year with the flu vaccine program, and as we worked with our partners to facilitate the safe vaccination of close to 50,000 Lambton residents in 2009 during the H1N1 Pandemic. We are working very closely with local partners to plan for secure vaccine storage, and are currently basing our plans on receiving our first shipment of the COVID-19 vaccine the week of February 1.”
The first priority (Phase 1) will be to vaccinate the most vulnerable group – residents and staff of Long-Term Care and Retirement Homes. “LPH staff are actively working with Long-Term Care and Retirement Homes to ensure their residents and staff are the first to receive the vaccine,” said Dr. Ranade. “Long-Term Care Homes are currently gathering consents, preparing lists of staff and residents and setting up tentative appointments, so that as soon as we know when the vaccine will arrive, we will be able to provide immunizations within 24 hours.”
Implementation Schedule
As the vaccine supply increases, the immunization campaign will expand accordingly. Vaccine supply and delivery is very tightly controlled by the Province.
Phase 1: February – March 2021
- Long-Term Care and Retirement Home residents, staff and essential caregivers.
Additional priority groups that will follow the vaccination of Long-Term Care and Retirement Home residents, staff and essential caregivers include:
- Health Care Workers
- Other congregate care settings
- First Nations Communities
- Older adults
In Phase 2 and 3, the general population will have access through multiple immunization clinic locations including primary care providers and pharmacists.
“If we can get our most vulnerable citizens vaccinated early, as well as the front line health care staff critical to the management and containment of COVID-19, we will then be able to focus on the other groups in order of vulnerability,” said Dr. Ranade. “It is our goal to have inoculated everyone who wants to receive the vaccine as soon as we can possibly do so.”
Please note: At this time, LPH is not holding a waitlist for the vaccine. Vaccination is part of the solution to reduce community transmission. It is important to continue to follow all public health advice and take everyday actions to help stop the spread of the virus.
“I look forward to sharing a detailed COVID-19 Vaccination Plan with our key stakeholders and the public at large in the coming weeks,” said Dr. Ranade.
For updates about Lambton Public Health’s COVID-19 Immunization Plan visit the new dedicated vaccine page on our website.
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