NWHU preparing to scale back vaccination clinics

Northwestern Health Unit (NWHU) urges those who still need a first, second, or booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to book an appointment when eligible. The health unit’s large vaccination clinics will be scaled back in early February.

To increase accessibility, the vaccination clinics being offered in communities next month include evening hours at community-based clinics as well as daytime school-based clinics. “Once the large-scale clinics wrap up, individuals can still get their COVID-19 vaccine from NWHU, however, there will be fewer clinics and less appointments available at each one,” says Dr. Kit Young Hoon, Medical Officer of Health at NWHU. “We have also started offering the vaccine in schools to students with parental or legal guardian consent and are seeing very good uptake. These clinics will continue throughout February to ensure students and staff can get their vaccination,” says Dr. Young Hoon.

Due to staffing and decreased demand for the vaccine, clinics in the smaller communities in our region have a new booking process. “If you don’t see your community listed in the booking system and want a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, you can book an appointment in a larger community, or if transportation is an issue, you can call your local NWHU office to be added to a waiting list. Once we have enough people interested to set up a clinic date in that community, we will inform those on the list,” says Dr. Young Hoon.

In addition to NWHU clinics, the COVID-19 vaccine is available from some local pharmacies in Kenora, Dryden, Fort Frances, and Sioux Lookout and from some primary care providers across the region.

The COVID-19 vaccine is highly effective at reducing the chance of severe outcomes from COVID-19, including the Omicron variant. A booster dose offers protection from symptomatic infection from the Omicron variant, which lowers the chance of being off work and missing other activities due to illness.

To book an appointment at a NWHU clinic and for more information on eligibility, visit: https://www.nwhu.on.ca/covid-19/booking-a-covid-19-vaccine-appointment/.

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Media contact:
Dr. Kit Young Hoon
Medical Officer of Health
Northwestern Health Unit
jbegg@nwhu.on.ca