Kawartha Lakes health unit prepares to vaccinate residents 80 years and up

DAN CEARNS, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, for The Standard

KAWARTHA LAKES: City of Kawartha Lakes residents, 80 Years of Age and Older, will be able to start booking appointments to receive the COVID-19 vaccine this week.

On Friday, March 12th, the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit (HKPR) announced the Lindsay Exhibition (LEX) and the Fenelon Falls Community Centre have been chosen as sites for mass immunization clinics.

“We know our residents have been patiently waiting for their chance to be vaccinated, and we are pleased to work with a number of different health care providers, the municipality and community agencies to make that happen,” HKPR Acting Medical Officer of Health Dr. Ian Gemmill said, in a statement. “All of our local healthcare providers and community partners want to get the vaccine into as many arms as possible right away, and we are pleased to see these clinics get underway.”

The Lindsay exhibition site is currently being staffed by the Ross Memorial Hospital.

“Our staff have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic and we are pleased to be able to provide a clinic to vaccinate our most senior residents,” Kelly Isfan, CEO of Ross Memorial Hospital said, in a press release.

In a statement, Kawartha Lakes Mayor Andy Letham was optimistic, but also cautioned people about being vigilant.

“This vaccine doesn’t mean things will go back to normal right away, but it is [a] step in the right direction to get us back to the way things used to be,” read the Mayor’s statement.

Booking of appointments will be done through the province’s online and phone system. For more information, go online to Ontario.ca/bookvaccine or call 1-888-999-6488.

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