Skip to main content Skip to Navigation Skip to Footer

COVID-19 Vaccine Bulletin - May 6, 2021

Volume 14 – Issued May 6th, 2021

Getting the COVID-19 Vaccine is Quick and Easy

If eligible to attend a mass-immunization clinic offered through the Porcupine Health Unit, book a COVID-19 vaccine appointment online, or by calling 705-360-4819 (Timmins) or 1-800-461-1818.

The Timmins Academic Family Health Team and the Kapuskasing and Area Family Health Team will be contacting eligible clients to book a COVID-19 vaccine appointment.

If you are 40 years of age and older, a COVID-19 vaccine appointment may be scheduled through a local pharmacy.

News Highlights

 

COVID-19 Vaccine Numbers

  • Vaccine doses given at PHU mass immunization clinics: 31,064.
  • Number of people vaccinated with at least 1 dose of vaccine in the PHU area: 29,766.
  • 45% of individuals 18 years of age and older in the PHU area have received at least one dose of vaccine.


Porcupine Health Unit COVID-19 Information Line

Call with any inquiries about COVID-19. If you or a loved one are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine but are experiencing barriers to accessing the vaccine clinics and need support, call the health unit.
Timmins: 705-360-4819 Toll free: 1-800-461-1818


COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Plan

Ontario’s COVID-19 vaccination plan includes 3 phases which began with immunizing those most at risk of severe illness and death due to COVID-19. Currently, we are working through Phase 2 of the provincial COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan. Find out if you are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine at one of the upcoming COVID-19 mass immunization clinics by reviewing the list on the Porcupine Health Unit website.

Extended Interval for Two of COVID-19 Vaccines

The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) has recommended an extended interval of up to 4 months between doses for COVID-19 vaccines due to the current limited COVID-19 vaccine supply. The extended vaccine dose interval allows access to COVID-19 vaccine sooner and provides protection to more individuals across Canada. Real-world evidence indicates that there is still high effectiveness several weeks after the first dose of COVID-19 vaccines in preventing symptomatic COVID-19 infection and hospitalization.

Ontario is following the NACI recommendation for most of the population as evidence suggests that this will result in a reduction in infections, symptomatic disease, hospitalization, and ICU admissions. However, due to increased risk to COVID-19 the following population groups will receive the second dose of COVID-19 vaccine sooner (at the dose interval indicated in the vaccine product monograph):

  • Long-term care homes, retirement homes, Elder Care and Assisted Living residents
  • On-reserve First Nations members and remote and isolated First Nation communities
  • Transplant recipients (including solid organ transplants and hematopoietic stem cell transplants)
  • Individuals with malignant hematologic disorders and non-hematologic malignant solid tumors receiving active treatment (chemotherapy, targeted therapies, immunotherapy)

The Porcupine Health Unit is actively developing a process to let you know when you may receive your second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Helpful Links: