Submitted by Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit
Those 60 years of age and older are now eligible to directly book their COVID-19 vaccination at community clinics via Ontario.ca/bookvaccine as the provincial COVID-19 Vaccination Distribution Plan moves into Phase 2.
“The movement into Phase 2 is encouraging and hopeful news for our communities. The faster people are vaccinated, the sooner our communities will be protected, and the closer we are to bringing the pandemic under control,” said Simcoe Muskoka’s Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Charles Gardner. “Expanding immunization into Phase 2 groups follows on the heels of another important milestone—we have now administered more than 100,000 doses of vaccine in Simcoe Muskoka, which includes more than 18,000 individuals who have received both doses of the vaccine. It is important to note that it is expected that it will take until the end of June to complete this phase, and is dependent on vaccine supply. We appreciate everyone’s ongoing patience as we move through the various groups.”
Other groups are also eligible in this phase, including those in the highest-risk health condition category, followed later by the high-risk category, plus one essential caregiver where eligible. These individuals may be contacted directly by local hospitals and/or primary care providers in order to advise them on the details of how they can receive vaccination.
The highest-risk health condition category includes:
- Organ transplant recipients;
- Stem cell (Hematopoietic) transplant recipients;
- People with neurological diseases in which respiratory function may be compromised (e.g., motor neuron disease, myasthenia gravis, multiple sclerosis);
- People with cancers that affect the blood, bone marrow, and lymph nodes (Haematological malignancy) diagnosed less than one year ago; and
- Kidney disease (defined by eGFR< 30).
High-risk health conditions include:
- Obesity (BMI > 40);
- Other treatments causing immunosuppression (e.g., chemotherapy); and
- Intellectual or developmental disabilities.
Additionally, adults aged 50 years and older (born in 1971 or earlier) who live in “hot spot” priority communities that have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 will be eligible for vaccination through specific immunization clinics, which will be announced separately. In Simcoe Muskoka, the province has identified the area of Bradford East as a “hot spot” priority community, based on ongoing higher rates of COVID-19 transmission, hospitalization and death.
For more information about the COVID-19 immunization plan, please visit our COVID-19 pages at www.smdhu.org.
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Chris Lowe says
The vaccine rollout hasn’t gone well from the beginning, certainly lots of blame all the way around, not enough, delays getting to Canada, yes we could have made our own. It has turned into a partisan divide considering who you wish to blame. I am sure I have been guilty of criticism as much as anyone. Just before noon my cell phone rang and it was a nurse from the SMPH vaccination clinic, my first reaction was a negative one thinking my scheduled vaccination time for later in the afternoon had been cancelled. Of course I am about to launch having waited 11 days but the nurse was calling to ask me if I would be interested in coming in sooner than scheduled, basically whenever you want.
I wasn’t about to ask why, perhaps people cancelled none of my business, I suggested 2:00 pm and all was good. Arrived a few minutes early, found a parking spot stood inline outside for a few minutes chatted with a very friendly young man that was security. Next thing I knew I was through the check in process and sitting inside the rink waiting for the next available health professional to actually administer the Pfizer vaccine. I was called up asked the standard medical questions. The doctor asked me which arm I preferred we even joked about how people see others getting vaccinated on the nightly news and how a lot remark on the size of the needle. She assured it was a fine needle and not meant for an elephant. I am sure she hears it from everyone on how much they hate needles, who doesn’t. She assured me that she would be gentle. She was true to her word, a paper cut hurts more. I was relieved that I was getting the vaccination but dreading it at the same time after seeing the lineups and confusion at the clinics in Toronto. It was painless both figuratively and literally. At the end she asked if I had any questions, explained the possible reactions sore arm etc take a Tylenol and I was off to wait the required 15 min, which was the part that took the longest. Bottom line I was very impressed with the entire process, the health professionals and volunteers were friendly, courteous knew what they were doing and had you in and out in less than 30 min plus the relief of knowing that within a certain time period I will have some kind of protection against the virus. Therefore when you become eligible for a vaccination it takes less than 30 minutes of your day so sign up, the more that do will allow us to get back to some kind of normal.
Marcia Frost says
There is literally a massive group of about 30 teenagers (on lunch break) right now horsing around at the town docks, no masks, very close contact, jumping on eachother etc!!! WTF
Anothr 15 or so of them playing on the childrens playground up the street!! Again no masks, no social distance.
Can nothing be done to get them to at least make an EFFORT?! Its maddening and makes no sense during a Lockdown!