Lambton COVID-19 Immunization Task Force Update – May 11, 2021

Point Edward, ON – The Lambton COVID-19 Immunization Task Force met Tuesday, May 11 to discuss updates to the COVID-19 vaccine rollout plan in Lambton County. Here are some highlights from the meeting:

To date, a total of 55,209 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered by Lambton Public Health (LPH), Bluewater Health, primary care and pharmacies. That represents 47 percent of the eligible population in Lambton County who have received one or more doses.

On Tuesday, the Province opened registration for Group 2 of essential frontline workers who cannot work from home. This includes critical retail (grocery, food bank, pharmacy, restaurant and other), manufacturing industries directly involved in supporting COVID-19, construction, social workers and social services staff who provide in-person client services, courts/justice system employees, transportation/warehousing and distribution workers, veterinarians and their teams, oil/petroleum workers, and many others. Individuals with Highest-Risk, High-Risk and At-Risk health conditions such as dementia and diabetes may also continue to register for their immunization appointments.

Beginning Thursday, May 13, individuals 40 years of age and older (or those who are turning 40 in 2021) will also be permitted to book their vaccination appointments. All other groups who were previously eligible remain eligible to book a first dose appointment.

If you’re eligible and would like to schedule an appointment go to Lambton Public Health’s Registration page. Please be patient as clinics are booking up quickly. If clinics are fully booked, check back often. Additional clinics will be added as vaccine supply is confirmed.

In addition, the Government of Ontario is adding High-Risk Healthcare Workers, dialysis patients and all First Nations, Inuit and Metis individuals to the list of those eligible to receive a second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine earlier than the extended four-month interval. Booking details are in progress and more information will be provided soon.

Last week, LPH unveiled a new dedicated Vaccine Call Centre which is open from Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The new Vaccine Call Centre can be reached at 226-254-8222 or visit the Contact Us page on Lambton Public Health’s website. Individuals with COVID-19 vaccine inquiries or those who are having difficulty booking their COVID-19 vaccination appointment online are asked to call this new number to speak with an agent directly.

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

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LPH Media Inquiries

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.