Point Edward, ON – The Lambton COVID-19 Immunization Task Force met Tuesday, March 30 to discuss updates to the COVID-19 vaccine rollout plan in Lambton County. Here are some highlights from the meeting:

A total of 23,042 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered. That represents 20 percent of the eligible population in Lambton County who have received one or more doses.

On Monday, the Province of Ontario opened registration for individuals who are 70-74 years of age (or who are turning 70 in 2021). One in-home caregiver who resides in the same household as the 70+ year old, and one in-home caregiver of an adult receiving chronic home care may also pre-register for their vaccination appointment.

Lambton Public Health (LPH) also opened pre-registration for the first group in Phase 2 of the Province’s immunization rollout – essential frontline workers who cannot work from home. Further information and a list of the current eligible groups can be found on getthevaccine.ca. Pre-registration is also continuing for healthcare workers (identified in Phase 1), adult recipients of chronic home care, and urban Indigenous adults.

Eligible individuals who pre-register will receive an email invitation to schedule an immunization appointment directly from the Government of Ontario booking system – please allow 48 to 72 hours to receive your invitation.

A reminder that on March 10 following recommendations from the National Committee on Immunization (NACI), the Government of Ontario extended the interval times for three COVID-19 vaccines (Moderna, Pfizer & AstraZeneca) from four weeks to 16 weeks. This means if a resident’s second dose appointment was scheduled four weeks after their first dose (or if the resident did not receive an additional appointment), their second dose booking needs to be re-scheduled. The new appointment will be 16 weeks after the resident’s first dose. Second dose appointments for these groups are expected to rollout starting in June 2021.

Please do not call or request your second dose appointment at this time. The health unit is in the process of securing appointment options for this group under a new set of dates.

Our Call Centre phone lines are currently at full capacity to support eligible vaccination registrants, and continued case/contact management to reduce transmission in the community. Please be patient as more vaccine becomes available and eligibility for first and second doses is announced.

The City of Sarnia is working closely with Lambton Public Health to build an additional mass immunization clinic at the Clearwater Arena this week. Dependent on vaccine supply, this additional site will serve to increase capacity for vaccine distribution.

Family and friends are encouraged to help loved ones complete the online options for registration and/or pre-registration. We are also urging everyone to print and complete the Provincial consent form prior to your vaccination appointment. If you do not have a printer at home, copies of the consent form are now available for pick up using Lambton County Library’s contactless, curbside pickup service. There is no charge to access a printed copy and you do not need a library card.

All clinics are by appointment only. Please do not attend a clinic expecting to receive your vaccination unless you have booked an appointment. Each clinic only has enough vaccine onsite for confirmed booked appointments that particular day.

Visit GetTheVaccine.ca for the latest updates on the vaccine roll-out plan in Lambton County.

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Please contact:
LPH-media-inquiries@county-lambton.on.ca   

The Lambton COVID-19 Immunization Task Force is a group dedicated to the safe, comprehensive, effective, efficient and equitable rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine in Lambton County. Led by Lambton Public Health, the group consists of key stakeholders critical to the success of the plan including: Bluewater Health, Emergency Medical Services, Primary Care, Community Emergency Management Coordinators from the City of Sarnia, Village of Point Edward and County of Lambton, Aamjiwnaang First Nation, Kettle and Stony Point First Nation, and Walpole Island First Nation.  The Task Force works to make vaccinations available to eligible populations in alignment with the Province of Ontario’s COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Plan.