Dr. Sutcliffe says COVID vaccine rollout for local health-care workers begins this week

Sudbury's Medical Officer of Health said the immunization of health-care workers in the area begins this week, but she added that full details on the roll out of the COVID-19 vaccines have not yet been fully disclosed as the health unit is still waiting for information from the province.

Dr. Penny Sutcliffe of Public Health Sudbury and Districts (PHSD) was speaking in a social media video posted on the weekend and remarked there have been many questions about the local vaccine plans. 

"It has been relatively slow in getting to the North, I do know that, but really pleased to report that we've been able to provide the first dose of this vaccine to all of the residents in long term care homes across our district, to elders' lodges and also to one higher risk retirement home in our area," said Sutcliffe.

She added that the vaccine program will be stepping up this week as PHSD expects to receive more vaccine doses. 

"Our plans are to immunize, to offer immunization to all of the staff and essential care givers of long-term care homes, to the residents of retirement homes, and to begin immunizing the highest priority health-care workers across our area," said Sutcliffe. 

Sutcliffe also said the local vaccine program would not be possible without the efforts of so many people working behind the scenes to make the plan work.

"Thank you to everyone for your patience. I recognize that the details have been slow in coming and that's because we're still waiting on a number of really firmed-up details so that we can plan and share with you details such as where the clinics will be, who is eligible, how do you book an appointment. But please rest assured that all that planning is going on behind the scenes and we will make sure that we post that to our website at Public Health Sudbury and Districts," she said. 

Sutcliffe added that while Ontario is well on the road to seeing the end of the pandemic, there is still a long way to go. She wrapped up her video by asking members of the public to do all they can to slow the spread of COVID-19 and the variants of concern.