Peninsula Family Health Team Continues Local Vaccination Clinics
By Joanne Rodgers, Bruce Peninsula Press
By 14 May, the Peninsula Family Health Team (PFHT) had administered 1,850 doses of vaccines at their two vaccination sites in Lion’s Head and Tobermory. With the local vaccination clinics first starting on March 17, and continuing in two week intervals, 63 percent of local residents have received their first shot to date. The Health Team anticipates by June 1, every resident 18 years and over will be able to receive their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Local Health Team Runs Vaccination Clinics
The Peninsula Family Health Team acts as an extension of the Grey Bruce Health Unit and follows the same guidelines and age cohort eligibility as set out by the Health Unit. The Health Team offers vaccines to patients on their roster as well as any resident of Northern Bruce. The amount of doses received is completely dependent on the supply that the Grey Bruce Health Unit receives. To date, the clinics have administered Pfizer-BioNTech, AstraZeneca and Moderna.
On vaccination days, they have administered approximately 350 doses per day at their two sites, one at the Bethel Missionary Church Hall in Lion’s Head and at the PFHT clinic site in Tobermory. With more doses becoming available, the clinics are becoming more frequent as the PFHT works to get as many people immunized as quickly as possible.
The local physician group decided early on this past winter that it was not reasonable to ask residents to travel to one of the three main vaccination hubs in Owen Sound, Hanover or Kincardine to receive their shots, and was committed to offer more accessible clinics locally to the residents of Northern Bruce Peninsula. Working closely with Dr. Ian Arra, Medical Officer of Health for Grey Bruce, the PFHT developed a plan to provide local vaccinations and the response has been extremely positive.
Family Health Team Hands-On Approach
Pam Loughlean, PFHT Executive Director says the team has gained some efficiencies from hosting 12 vaccination clinics. She says it is a very hands-on experience, with every staff member from administrative staff to nurses to physicians having played a role to ensure the effective running of the clinics. They have had to juggle duties and responsibilities to operate the vaccination sites and at the same time keep their medical clinic open. It’s been a bit of a daunting task, but one that she says is critical to the health and wellbeing of the community. Loughlean is heartened by the positive response of the community. There has been no difficulty in fully booking the vaccination spots and there is a very low decline rate.
Loughlean says it is also therapeutic for their patients to see familiar faces working at the vaccine clinics, which helps to minimize some patients’ anxiety about receiving the vaccination. Clinic staff are equally pleased to personally interact with their patients, as they have missed seeing some people in the clinic due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Vaccine One Tool To Stop Community Spread
Loughlean states that the vaccine is only one part of the plan for our community to beat COVID-19. Until more of the general population is vaccinated, residents should not let their guard down. She says while we are definitely on the right path, we are not yet at that point with immunizations where we can be lax about protocols. She reminds vaccinated and non-vaccinated community members to be mindful of the public health guidelines, such as wearing a mask, staying at least 6 feet away from other people and washing hands thoroughly and frequently.
Social Worker Available To Help Residents Dealing With Stress
The Peninsula Family Health Team recognizes that this pandemic has been a struggle, for some not only a physical ailment but also mental health challenges. Loughlean advises residents that the Family Health Team has a social worker available daily to assist anyone dealing with stress, isolation or needing someone to talk to. They are welcomed to contact the Family Health Team for an appointment with the Social Worker at: Lion’s Head 519-793-3445 or Tobermory 519-596-2305.
