As Grey Bruce enters its second phase of the provincial vaccine framework, vaccines have been administered above provincial averages, said an April 8 media release from the Grey Bruce Health Unit.
Over 36,000 total doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in Grey and Bruce to date and overall, 21 percent of the approximately 150,000 residents who are eligible in Grey Bruce have been vaccinated with their first dose, compared to 16 percent of the Ontario population.
With Phase One of the provincial three-phase vaccine distribution plan complete, the Grey Bruce Health Unit announced vaccine milestones reached, or in progress, as of Wednesday, April 7, 2021.
• All Long-Term Care Home residents and staff offered first and second dose
- 1172 (90%) residents vaccinated with first dose
- 1101 (85%) residents vaccinated with second dose
- 1341 (64%) staff vaccinated with first dose
- 1166 (56%) staff vaccinated with second dose
• All Retirement Home residents and staff offered first and second dose
- 1071 (92%) residents vaccinated with first dose
- 761 (65%) residents vaccinated with second dose
- 413 (61%) staff vaccinated with first dose
- 307 (45%) staff vaccinated with second dose
• 77% of eligible First Nation residents living in First Nation communities vaccinated for first dose
- 28% residents vaccinated with second dose to date
• All Highest, Very High, High-Risk and Moderate-Risk healthcare staff offered first dose
- Hospital Sector - 2411 (77%) staff vaccinated to date with first dose
• All Police, Fire and EMS offered first dose
• 8563 (82%) of residents ages 80+ in Grey Bruce vaccinated with first dose
• 4886 (61%) of residents ages 75 - 79 in Grey Bruce vaccinated with first dose
• 4145 (34%) of residents ages 70 - 75 in Grey Bruce vaccinated with first dose
"As we move through the phases of prioritization, our Hockey Hubs are being brought up to full capacity for mass immunization clinics," read the release.
Following the prioritization guidelines for Phase Two, vaccines will be made available to population groups based primarily on age and risk, including adults aged 60 plus years of age and groups recognized to have greater risk associated with hot spot communities, congregate living settings as well as highest and high-risk health conditions. Additional strategies will support vaccination of essential workers who cannot work from home and at-risk health conditions.
See Ontario Moving to Phase Two of COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Plan from the Government of Ontario.
"Thanks go out to the partners and the Grey Bruce Vaccine Task Force for the support they provided over the past weeks in planning and implementation to bring about the successful completion of Phase One," the release said. "As we move into Phase Two, the bulk of our effort will go towards communication on vaccine rollout progress and education on vaccine readiness."
Grey Bruce sets record for largest clinic
Grey Bruce Health Unit administered 3498 vaccines at the Hockey Hub mass immunization system in Hanover Wednesday. To their knowledge, this is the largest volume single-day mass immunization event in Canada, read a second media release April 8.
On average, the Hockey Hub mass immunization system vaccinated 350 people per hour.
Clinic staffing included five vaccinators working at all times (including one volunteer physician), serving five rows of 30 pods each, total 150 vaccine pods. An additional 10 staff were reconstituting vaccine, mixing and drawing into syringes. There were eight registration desks and 20 volunteers inside (three four-hour shifts), 10 Town volunteers coordinating parking outdoors.
Four Grey County EMS volunteers assisted in both clinical and non-clinical capacities.
In addition to the Hockey Hub in Hanover, three additional smaller local traditional clinics in Grey Bruce administered another 282 doses, for a total of 3780 doses administered in the day.
The Hockey Hub system was developed by Grey Bruce Medical Officer of Health Dr Ian Arra and the concept has been adopted by a number of health units across Ontario as well as the Provinces of Manitoba and Alberta.
