By Thursday night, some 346 people had received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, following the weekly Thursday clinic at the Collins Hall.
It was day one of this week's two days of vaccine administration clinics by the Elliot Lake Family Health Team (ELFHT).
Thursday night ELFHT member Dr. Cathy Groh posted those results on social media.
She wrote, "An estimated 45 per cent of the population of Elliot Lake has now received at least one dose."
"Elliot Lake will receive larger allotments and more groups will be eligible for vaccination over the next two weeks. There is every expectation that vaccine availability will increase further in June," she said. "Until a large enough percentage of the population has been vaccinated and case numbers are down in Ontario, it is important that everyone continue to take care to prevent COVID-19 from entering and spreading in our community."
To date, the Health Team's clinic has provided either Pfizer or Moderna vaccines.
A few readers had questions for Dr. Groh.
Q: So is it a true understanding that as of Monday, May 17, 50+ can register?
A: Yes
Q: know that some essential workers are being vaccinated now. Do we know if the categories will be expanded next week? What age group will be reached for inoculation next week?
A: APH has expanded the categories to age 50+ and large groups of essential workers and at-risk medical conditions. There will be many, many more people eligible for first doses.
She advises people to call the ELFHT at 705-461-8882 to make a vaccination appointment.
Another reader contacted ElliotLakeToday asking Dr. Groh to comment on plans by the Elliot Lake Red Wings to hold their junior hockey tryout camp at Centennial Arena next month.
Wednesday the club posted on its social media page that only 16 spaces remain of the 78 the team has been offering for player tryouts.
The reader was concerned that the expected influx out of town would pose a threat to the local COVID case balance, which remains lower than in many other Ontario municipalities.
Dr. Groh deferred to the APH, with this comment, "I think that is a question that should be directed to Algoma Public Health. They would be in the best position to comment on whether that would be too risky."
At the time of publication, there was no response from the APH.
A very different scenario from the Collins Hall clinics continues at Shoppers Drug Mart on Ontario Avenue in Elliot Lake. There, the supply of AstraZeneca vaccine ran out two weeks after more than 700 doses had been administered by the store staff in the first two weeks of their clinics.
After that, the province decided to put a hold on AstraZeneca following a small incidence of blood clots among some other recipients.
Ana Lees, the store's Pharmacist/Associate Owner told ElliotLakeToday, "No word on anything about vaccines yet. I have reached out to APH and central office, neither have heard anything from the Ministry (of Health)."