press release

Lambton Public Health Participating in Provincial Vaccine Booking System Pilot

Point Edward, ON – Lambton Public Health (LPH) is happy to report that it is one of six Ontario Public Health Units participating in a pilot of a new online Provincial Immunization Booking System.

Starting today, LPH is inviting all members of the County’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to test components of the new online system by booking their vaccination appointments. Their immunizations are scheduled at fixed site clinics on March 5 and 8 at the Point Edward Arena/Optimist Club Community Hall, and March 9 and 11 at the Wyoming Fairgrounds.

“We’re proud to play a role in assisting the Government of Ontario in testing components of its new online booking system,” said Steve Pancino, EMS Manager. “Lambton EMS paramedics have been on the front lines of the COVID response for the past year, including as part of Lambton’s Mobile Testing and Immunization Teams in partnership with Bluewater Health. We’re happy they will now have the additional protection the vaccine offers, so they can continue to do their part to keep the community safe.”

Simultaneously, LPH is training its staff and readying its local call centre to assist with the EMS bookings in preparation for a rollout to larger priority groups as per the Provincial Government’s guidance, and as more vaccine supply becomes available.

“We volunteered to be part of this testing because we think it’s important to ensure our local booking processes and capacities are ready as we prepare to open our local fixed site immunization clinics,” said Dr. Sudit Ranade, Medical Officer of Health for Lambton County.

Note: The Public Health Units involved in testing this pilot are only reaching out to a small group of individuals to participate. It is not currently open to the general public, only to those who have been identified and invited to take part in the testing of the system. The new online booking website, as well as a new Provincial call centre is expected to be open to the public on March 15. For updates and further information on these items go to https://covid-19.ontario.ca/getting-covid-19-vaccine-ontario.

The other five Public Health Units participating in the pilot are: Grey Bruce; Leeds, Grenville and Lanark; Hastings and Prince Edward Counties; Peterborough County-City; and Kingston, Frontenac, and Lennox and Addington.

Please visit getthevaccine.ca to learn more about how you and your family can access the COVID-19 vaccines as they become available in the community.

-30-

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