Starting Friday, residents at Extendicare in Haliburton will be getting their first dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.
Dr. Norm Bottum with the Haliburton Highlands Family Health Team says all residents will be immunized. “As well there will be a few extra doses that are being given to some of the older staff that work closely with the residents,” he adds.
Bottum joined Rick Lowes on the 93.5 Moose FM morning show to break the news.
“I was told this morning that Highland Wood and Highland Crest were initially scheduled for later next week but with a limited supply of vaccine, they will be postponed,” he says, adding a new date has not been scheduled.
“It’s finally arrived,” he said. “Despite all the delays with the vaccine and the supply issues, we’ve got it and we’re getting started.”
The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit’s (HKPR) Medical Officer of Health Dr. Ian Gemmill said this week is the first that the vaccine will be administered to residents and staff at long-term care centres in HKPR’s medical region. He told the MyHaliburtonNow.com newsroom that they received 700 doses of Moderna’s vaccine. Gemmill said that would cover “just under half” of long-term care residents in the region.