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Dwindling supply starting to impact local vaccine rollout

Troy Shantz Sarnia-Lambton’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout is missing only one thing: vaccines. Lambton Public Health has the capacity to administer 10,000 vaccine doses a week but supplies from the province aren’t keeping up, officials say.
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Troy Shantz

Sarnia-Lambton’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout is missing only one thing: vaccines.

Lambton Public Health has the capacity to administer 10,000 vaccine doses a week but supplies from the province aren’t keeping up, officials say.

“We are at a critical juncture - we need a large influx of vaccines to keep our clinics running and most importantly, to keep our residents protected,” said Dr. Sudit Ranade, Lambton's Medical Officer of Health.

The dwindling supply means the Point Edward Arena mass vaccination clinic will be open only four days instead of six day a week while Lambton Public Health advocates for additional doses.

The 53rd local COVID-19-related death was recorded on the weekend. A woman in her 70s died after being admitted to Bluewater Health. Lambton Public Health and hospital could not confirm if the patient had been vaccinated.

Ten new cases were reported today, and 10 people are being treated in hospital. The number of outbreaks has dropped to four: Afton Park Place; two elementary schools and one unnamed workplace. The number of active cases has fallen to 127, from 243 on March 22.

Bluewater Health has begun postponing some surgeries, starting today, as directed by the province, the hospital said. The move follows extreme pressure being placed on critical care capacity across Ontario because of surging COVID-19 cases.

Patients scheduled for a surgical procedure will be called directly by their care provider, the hospital said.

As of last week, 30,000 Sarnia-Lambton residents had received their first COVID-19 vaccine dose and more than 1,500 were fully immunized with two shots

Five local pharmacies are now offering the AstraZeneca shot to residents 55 years and older, up from three pharmacies last week.

Booking should be made directly with the pharmacies themselves, at:  Shoppers Drug Mart on Exmouth Street, Rexall Pharmacy on Cathcart Boulevard, Loblaws Superstore on Murphy Road, Bright’s Grove Family Pharmacy, and Forest Pharmacy.

Earlier this month, Ontario expanded the time frame between vaccine doses from four weeks days to 16 weeks. As a result, Lambton Public Health says residents may need to be re-book their appointment for a second dose.

Visit lambtonpublichealth.ca/ for the latest COVID-19 related updates in Lambton County.


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