With COVID-19 vaccinations set to begin next week at Memorial Gardens, there will inevitably be some people who are homebound and unable to travel to the site. Those homebound citizens residing in the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit catchment area can expect a solution from local health officials but what that will entail not yet been determined.
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Monday, the City of Greater Sudbury and Public Health Sudbury & Districts announced the launch of a pilot project in which local paramedics will travel to and administer COVID-19 vaccines directly to homebound individuals who are born in 1941 or earlier or who receive chronic home care services.
When asked about the possibility of launching its own, similar program in North Bay–Parry Sound, the North Bay Regional Health Centre — which operates the local ambulance service — referred the question to the Health Unit, which is in charge of the vaccine roll-out.
Asked about the possibility of a pilot project of its own in the district, the local Health Unit responded, "We are working with our community partners to identify those truly homebound clients who are unable to attend a clinic, and determine how best to reach them for vaccination."
According to PHSD, its staff and City paramedics will work together to offer the COVID-19 vaccine to homebound individuals who reside in Greater Sudbury. Public Health nurses will prepare the vaccines and paramedics will transport and administer the vaccines in the person’s home.
PHSD says it is exploring ways to expand the program and searching for opportunities to work with paramedic services throughout its district service area to offer vaccinations to individuals who are homebound or receive chronic home care services.
"This initiative is possible because updated vaccine storage and handling guidelines allow for single syringes of vaccine to be transported. COVID-19 vaccines have strict handling and storing requirements to ensure the safety and efficacy of the vaccine," reads the PHSD release.
"From day one, our commitment has been that anyone who is eligible and wishes to receive the vaccine will have an opportunity to do so. This commitment has challenged us to think creatively and consider innovative ways that can help us get vaccine into arms as efficiently, safely, and fairly as possible," said Dr. Penny Sutcliffe, Medical Officer of Health with Public Health Sudbury & Districts.
PHSD indicates those eligible for the in-home service by paramedics are being identified through their home care service providers, through their primary care providers, or through submissions in the pre-registration process and cannot be requested directly via paramedics or PHSD.
The program "will permit access to the COVID-19 vaccine for eligible individuals who are unable to leave their homes and notes the Sudbury pilot is "not an alternative to attending a community-based mass immunization clinic, but it will help ensure access to the vaccine for those who are simply unable to attend a community clinic due to medical or physical restrictions."
