Dr. Cathy Groh of the Elliot Lake Family Health Team went on social media Friday night to update the community on the progress of the local COVID-19 mass immunization campaign.
"Vaccination clinics in Elliot Lake continue to focus on people aged 80+, Indigenous people aged 55+, and healthcare workers, and are starting to vaccinate workers at pharmacies and dentist's offices," she wrote.
"In just two weeks, 903 people have already been vaccinated at mass vaccination clinics. In addition, residents and staff have been vaccinated at the Manor (St. Joseph's Manor), Huron Lodge and Hillside Park, and staff at the hospital (Elliot Lake St. Joseph's General Hospital) continue to be vaccinated."
"Altogether about 1,300 people have been vaccinated in Elliot Lake. While this is promising, there are still thousands of vulnerable people who are waiting for vaccines. It is still important that we all follow public health guidelines," Dr. Groh continued.
"Even those of us who are vaccinated, so we do not spread COVID-19 in our community; if COVID-19 is allowed to spread unchecked, we will see even young people die, a tragedy made even worse by the possibility that we are so close to bringing COVID-19 under control with mass vaccination."
One reader wanted to know about the availability of vaccine for front line social services workers.
"This group is being vaccinated according to the setting where they work," Dr. Groh replied. "This is set out in the document entitled 'COVID-19: Guidance for Prioritizing Health Care Workers for COVID-19 Vaccination.'"
Algoma Public Health is directing the amount of vaccine given to each priority group at any time.
Another person said he was going to Toronto to get his shot, to which Dr. Groh issued a warning.
"There is a risk that you may contract the virus by travelling into a hot spot. Be careful!"
Regarding future clinics, she stated, "Algoma Public Health determines which groups will receive vaccine in Elliot Lake. I expect that within the next few weeks we will be able to start vaccinating those less than 80.
Under the direction of the Family Health Team last week, people received their first injection of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at Collins Hall.