Hockey arenas in five different communities in the North Bay-Parry Sound District Health Unit have been identified as locations for mass immunization clinics once more COVID-19 vaccines become available within the region.
Dr. Jim Chirico, the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit's chief medical officer of health, addressed the issue during a taped online press conference Wednesday morning.
He noted five main hub cites will be North Bay, Parry Sound, West Nipissing, and Sundridge within the North Bay Parry Sound Health Unit district.
"For large-scale general population clinics, the arena in each location will be utilized to host the clinics," Chirico stated.
However, no specific dates on when that will occur were identified.
"Conversations have been ongoing with the municipalities to arrange space," he said.
"Dates will be determined as we work through the phases of the vaccine rollout and based on vaccine supply. For smaller clinics, a smaller hall may be considered in the arena if available. Additionally, smaller targeted clinics for specific populations such as age or profession-specific groups will be held throughout the district. Locations will be based on a number of individuals who meet the criteria of the targeted population and the availability of space suitable to host clinics."
Immunizing the region will be a challenge, so from a staffing point of view, Chirico says the Health Unit is exploring a number of options.
"Hiring is underway to increase our registered staff who are able to provide immunizations as part of their scope of practice," he said.
"Additionally, conversations have been initiated with a number of community partners to recruit assistance and many of our primary health care providers have reached out and offered assistance to provide immunization clinics."
The Health Unit has already reached out to post-secondary institutions in the area to look at having students from programs such as nursing, paramedic, and office administration provide assistance at the various clinics.
Currently, Chirico notes the priority is to get the second dose given to those at local long-term care homes who have been immunized.
He says they are working with the Ministry of Health as well to find out which vaccines will be available to the area.
"Our supply will not arrive all at once, so distribution will happen in stages," the Ministry of Health states on its COVID-19 vaccination page
"The goal is for everyone in Ontario to be able to get a COVID-19 vaccination if they want one, as soon as enough doses are available from manufacturers," the Ministry continues.
As of today, more than 250,000 Ontario's have been fully vaccinated with more than 602,000 total doses administered.
