Health care workers assembling to help with mass vaccination clinics in Sudbury

Hopes are high and preparations are underway to get more people vaccinated over the coming months.

Doctors and nurse practitioners across Sudbury are stepping up to help immunize the public against COVID-19.

And that includes the City of Lakes Family Health Team, which consists of 17 family doctors and nine nurse practitioners at four locations.

Executive Director David Courtemanche says some of their staff will be helping out with the mass vaccination clinics that are currently in the works by Public Health Sudbury and Districts.

It's been a long year of questions for those health care workers, who are asked daily about when the vaccines will arrive and when people will be able to get them.

"That's the million-dollar question," Courtemanche told Morning North CBC guest host Jessica Pope.

"And I don't have a clear answer yet. We're somewhat at the mercy of the province in terms of how the vaccines get distributed. We do know that vaccines are arriving this week in Sudbury. We do know that the arenas are ready to go for those highest priority populations.

"And I'm hopeful that, as we move into phase two, which again begins in April, that vaccines are going to become available to the broader public and they'll have options in terms of going to a mass vaccination centre or to their own family physician or primary care provider to get the vaccine."

People are also asking if the vaccine is safe and effective.

"That's two of the big questions that we get from people. And, of course, there's a tremendous body of evidence from around the world, from medical researchers indicating that, yes, the vaccines are safe, they are effective, and we're strongly encouraging our patients to get the vaccine when it's their turn," Courtemanche said.

So far, vaccines are being delivered directly to long term care homes, where the bulk of residents are being inoculated.

More on the specific details of the vaccine rollouts can be found Ontario's COVID-19 vaccine website. Health units throughout northeastern Ontario have published guidelines as well.

Courtemanche says the next major step is to open mass vaccination centres in different communities.

"So here in Sudbury we're going to have a couple of arenas that are going to be opening up shortly — Carmichael Arena, and the Dr. Edgar Leclair Arena, in Azilda."

The first people to receive vaccinations at these sites will be health care workers and other high risk groups.

"And then as we move into phase two, which is April to August, those centres will eventually open up to the general public."

Courtemanche says Public Health Sudbury and Districts is currently compiling the list of health care workers who will staff the mass vaccinations centres, and get people inoculated.

"We have family physicians, we have nurse practitioners, we have registered nurses, all of whom will be contributing to the effort being organized by the health unit at these local arenas."

Once the vaccines become available to individual practices, Courtemanche says they'll be able to administer vaccines to patients directly in their clinics. The City of Lakes Family Health Team serves roughly 21,000 patients.

He notes that health care providers at the family health team sites are encouraging their patients to get immunized. He adds they have been inundated with inquiries about the COVID-19 vaccine.

"There's lots of interest from a lot of people who want to get the vaccine. Our clear message to our patients is that, number one, it is coming very soon. Number two, it is safe and effective. Number three, we strongly encourage all of our patients who are eligible to get the vaccine to get it," Courtemanche said.

"So what we do with our patients is, through our website, through social media, through any way we can communicate with our patients, [we try] to make sure that they get all the information they need, so they're satisfied that the vaccine is safe and effective, something that they need to do, and encourage others to do as well."

Courtemanche says they've also received guidance from the province on how the vaccine will be rolled out among health care workers.