Ultimate Blogging Championship

Tag: members in the media

  • Bits & Pieces: OHIP renewal inequity, member stories and more

    Bits & Pieces: OHIP renewal inequity, member stories and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • Inequity in online renewal for OHIP
    • Practical approaches to polypharmacy: the gentle art of deprescribing slides and video available
    • Member stories
    • Interim Omicron guidance, booster letter and more
    • Seeking input on psychological safety factors
    • Together We Care 2022 Virtual Conference: call for content
    • Call for abstracts – Choosing Wisely Canada
    • Upcoming events regarding Primary Care Data Reports for OHTs and more

    Inequity in online renewal for OHIP

    Inequities in Ontario’s online health card renewal system must be addressed so marginalized people are not left behind.

    The Alliance for Healthier Communities (Alliance), the Association of Family Health Teams of Ontario (AFHTO), the Indigenous Primary Health Care Council (IPHCC), and the Nurse Practitioner-led Clinic Association (NPLCA) call on the government to address the inequities in the online health card renewal system.

    “The ability to renew the Ontario health card online is only available to people who hold a driver’s licence. This needs to change to include those with an Ontario photo card,” says Kavita Mehta, CEO of AFHTO. “There are a number of people who do not or cannot drive, including those with medical conditions. Like those with a licence, they need the same ability to renew online.” Read the full statement here.

    Please share via Twitter or Facebook– the more people aware of this issue, the better.

    Polypharmacy webinar slide with picture of elderly woman exercising in pool and her health profile

    Practical approaches to polypharmacy: the gentle art of deprescribing slides and video available

    On Dec. 1 we explored approaches to the issues and problems around polypharmacy and deprescribing in primary care patients. We also demonstrated the TAPER tool. The video and slide deck are now available.

     

    Member stories

    City of Lakes FHT– stepping up to help with routine vaccination during health unit’s pause

    Dryden and Red Lake FHTs– Dryden Rotary supporting community groups

    Guelph FHT– Guelph administers first COVID-19 vaccines to children under 12

    Primacare Community FHT– health hub now open

    Rapids FHT – 2,000 local children already booked for first COVID-19 shot

    Interim Omicron guidance, booster letter and more

    Recent updates include:

    We continue to update several pages on our site with resources and news:

    Seeking input on psychological safety factors

    In collaboration with the Mental Health Commission of Canada, researchers at the Centre for Studies in Primary Care at Queen’s University and HEC Montreal are inviting health-care workers and leaders to participate in research to identify barriers and facilitators to accessing support for psychological self-care and protection from moral distress.  
     
    Learn more about the study and participate in a Canada-wide survey.

    Together We Care 2022 Virtual Conference: call for content

    The Ontario Long Term Care Association (OLTCA) in partnership with the Ontario Retirement Communities Association (ORCA) will host an online experience for Together We Care (TWC), Monday, April 4 – Wednesday, April 6, 2022. The call for content is open until Dec. 20.

    Call for abstracts – Choosing Wisely Canada

    Choosing Wisely Canada is now accepting abstract submissions to be featured virtually at their National Meeting, on May 25 and May 26, 2022. Deadline is Jan. 28, 2022.

    Bounceback refresher webinars, Dec. 7-15, 2021
    Do you or your staff need a refresher on the BounceBack program and eligibility criteria? Attend an upcoming webinar in English or French. Links to resources also available. Register here.

    Primary Care Data Reports for OHTs, Dec. 8, 2021
    Hosted by Drs. Michael Green and Rick Glazier, INSPIRE-PHC. Find out more here.

    Echo Ontario Bariatric Network Series, starting Jan. 2022
    New series of sessions beginning January focusing on post bariatric surgical care. Register here.

    Diabetes Care: Tools and Resources to Support Mental Health Needs, Jan. 13, 2022
    First of an ongoing series that will highlight Ontario Health’s three diabetes quality standards. Register here.

    Family Medicine Summit 2022, Jan. 18, 28-29, 2022
    Kick-off event, January 18, 2022, with live stream days Jan. 28 & 29. Find out more here.

    Webinar Series: MyPractice Primary Care Report: Using Data for Improvement, Jan. 24 & Feb. 28, 2022
    Next in Ontario Health QI webinar series, focused on using the antibiotic prescribing and cancer screening indicators respectively. Register here.

  • Bits & Pieces: member stories, virtual CBT and more

    Bits & Pieces: member stories, virtual CBT and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • Reminder – virtual CBT for insomnia webinar today
    • Member stories
    • Primary Care Vaccination QI Support CoP
    • Updated screening form, aggregate vaccination reports and more
    • PTSD, Relationships & Accessible Support slides and video
    • 800 O2 sat monitors remaining- deadline for ordering extended
    • Support to implement large scale improvement initiatives- EXTRA call for applications
    • Upcoming events regarding aggregate primary care vaccination report and more

     

    Reminder – virtual CBT for insomnia webinar today

    In this webinar co-hosted with Queen’s FHT, we will review the first line treatment for chronic insomnia and describe its components. They will also explore how to set up and run a virtual group program in and interprofessional team setting. Get more details and register here.

    Elliott Lake FHT clinician in PPE administering their 10000th dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to a masked man sitting down

     

     

    Member stories

    Couchiching FHT– Orillia doc ‘thrilled’ to be named Family Physician of the Year

    Elliott Lake FHT– 10,000 dose milestone

    Thames Valley FHT – Final buzzer sounds on London’s rink-turned-COVID-centre as cases drop

    Upper Grand FHT– wrapping up drive-through vaccination clinics

     

     

     

     

    Primary Care Vaccination QI Support CoP

    There has been a lot of interest in the aggregate primary care vaccination reports, and we know there are a lot of questions. Apart from the information sessions, you can get answers in the Primary Care Vaccination QI Support CoP, an Ontario Health CoP on Quorum.

    Updated screening form, aggregate vaccination reports and more

    Recent updates include:

    We continue to update several pages on our site with resources and news:

    PTSD webinar title slide with image of a forest surrounding a lake with mountains in the background

     

    PTSD, Relationships & Accessible Support slides and video

    On July 14 we held a webinar co-hosted with Couple HOPES discussing PTSD and relationships with Dr. Candice Monson, Professor of Psychology at Ryerson University, Director of the IMPACT psychology research lab, and Registered Clinical Psychologist. Slides and video are now available here.

    800 O2 sat monitors remaining- deadline for ordering extended

    Only 5% of the original stock of oxygen saturation monitors are left. With some monitors remaining, Ontario Health is extending the deadline for ordering. Primary care providers can benefit from having oxygen saturation monitors in their practice for patients being monitored with COVID-19, or other serious respiratory conditions such as COPD. To place an order for a free monitor complete this form. Orders will be fulfilled while supplies last over the next two weeks. Contact OH_COVIDatHome@ontariohealth.ca for more information. Learn more on how to monitor patients with COVID-19.

    Support to implement large scale improvement initiatives- EXTRA call for applications

    Per Healthcare Excellence Canada:
    EXTRA is a program that supports teams of health leaders to implement large scale improvement initiatives. The teams are networked with others across the country, receive content from Canadian and international experts, and are supported throughout the 16-month program by QI coaches. Several teams from Ontario have participated in the past. In the 2019 cohort, a team from Michael Garron Hospital, VHA Home Health and Woodgreen Community Services led a project to deliver acute care at home to people with COPD for example.

    As we slowly emerge from the pandemic, you may be looking to solidify some of the practices you put in place to deal with the public health emergency or implement some improvement initiatives you weren’t able to get to. You can also partner with other organizations on an improvement project. The EXTRA program will support all these efforts.

    You can find more info on the EXTRA program and the application process in the Call for Applications here or by visiting the Healthcare Excellence Canada’s website.

    While the deadline for applications was July 15th, the EXTRA team is willing to extend it, should anyone express an interest in the coming few weeks. You can also reach out directly to Genevieve Martin at Healthcare Excellence Canada at EXTRA-FORCES@hec-esc.ca.

    Aggregate Primary Care Vaccination Report Info Sessions, July 21-29, 2021
    Hosted by Public Health Ontario. At times, primary care providers have felt detached from COVID-19 vaccine rollouts. To support primary care involvement, this session will summarize key enablers that led the Waterloo Region to achieve the highest total vaccine output through primary care across Ontario. Find out more here.

    Data Package and Data Supports Information Session, July 22, 2021

    Part of the “OHT Virtual Engagement Series”, supported by the Ministry of Health and Ontario Health. Find out more here.

    Applying the Ontario Health Asthma Quality Standards for Children and Adolescents in your practice, August 12, 2021
    Hosted by Ontario Health and the Lung Health Foundation. Find out more here.

    Pandemic Recovery and Chronic Disease Management: Primary Care for Adults with Asthma, August 19, 2021
    Hosted by Ontario Health and the Lung Health Foundation. Find out more here.

  • Bits & Pieces: member stories, board award and more

    Bits & Pieces: member stories, board award and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • Member stories
    • Nominate a partner or healthcare inspiration for an AFHTO Board award
    • Reminder – PTSD, Relationships & Accessible Support, tomorrow July 14, 2021
    • Vaccinating the last 25% and ramping up in-person visits and more
    • We want your input! Ontario Hepatitis C Elimination Roadmap
    • Upcoming events regarding PHO partnering with primary care in the vaccine response and more

     

    Member stories

    Bruyère Academic and North York FHTs– Ontario hopes family doctors can reach those unvaccinated against COVID-19

    Guelph FHT – 2020-2021 Annual Report is available to read online

    North York, South East Toronto, St. Michael’s Hospital Academic and Toronto Western FHTs– In stadiums and living rooms, family doctors are leading the vaccine effort

    Nominate a partner or healthcare inspiration for an AFHTO Board award

    2020 board award video

    For the first time ever, the AFHTO board invites all members to help them select the recipient of a Board award. The Board award recognizes an individual (or a group) who is not an AFHTO member but has significantly contributed to the development and growth of team-based primary care within their local community or at the provincial level.

    Submit a nomination online for the Board Award category by August 20, 2021.

    Find out more about the criteria here. You can find the nomination template here.

    PTSD takeaways

     

     

     

    Reminder – PTSD, Relationships & Accessible Support, July 14, 2021

    Co-hosted with Couple HOPES, join this webinar with Dr. Candice Monson, Professor of Psychology at Ryerson University, Director of the IMPACT psychology research lab, and Registered Clinical Psychologist as she discusses PTSD and relationships.
    Register here.

     

     

     

    Vaccinating the last 25% and ramping up in-person visits and more

    Recent updates include:

    We continue to update several pages on our site with resources and news:

    We want your input! Ontario Hepatitis C Elimination Roadmap

    Ontario is creating a roadmap to eliminate hepatitis C by 2030. AFHTO is participating as part of an advisory committee to help identify barriers and opportunities when it comes to primary care.
    The advisory committee wants to hear from Family Health Teams in Ontario to find out how hepatitis C fits in with your practice, and what supports or information you need to begin testing and treatment. If you are interested, please contact Christopher Hoy directly (choy@catie.ca) to set-up a time to chat.

    Reminder- nominations to the AFHTO Board of Directors open until July 30

    Are you interested in serving on the AFHTO board of directors? The Governance Committee of AFHTO’s board invites anyone who works within an AFHTO member organization to apply. Please share this call for nominations with all who work in your team and with members on your Board. Learn more about how you can take on a leadership role here. Deadline July 30.

    2021 Trillium Primary Health Care Research Day

    The 2021 Trillium Primary Health Care Research Day is virtual on Oct. 15, 2021. See their save-the-date for more details.

    PHO Rounds: Partnering with Primary Care in the Vaccine Response, July 15
    Hosted by Public Health Ontario. At times, primary care providers have felt detached from COVID-19 vaccine rollouts. To support primary care involvement, this session will summarize key enablers that led the Waterloo Region to achieve the highest total vaccine output through primary care across Ontario. Find out more here.

    Delivery of cognitive behaviour therapy for insomnia via virtual platform, July 21

    In this webinar co-hosted with Queen’s FHT, we will review the first line treatment for chronic insomnia and describe its components.  They will also explore how to set up and run a virtual group program in and interprofessional team setting.

    Get more details and register here.

    ECHO Ontario Child and Youth Mental Health (CYMH) at CHEO, September 7, 2021 – February 15, 2022
    Learn how ECHO Ontario Child and Youth Mental Health (CYMH) at CHEO can help you better care for children and youth. Limited spots available. Find out more here.

    Queen’s Department of Family Medicine CPD Program Fall 2021, Sep. 14- Dec. 7, 2021
    Part of the CPD Subscription, topics will include Menopause, Diabetes: New Meds and Beyond, Approach to Tremors, Pediatric Growth Issues, and Ask the MOH/Hot Topics in Public Health. Find out more here.

  • Gwekwaadziwin Miikan success leads to new pilot project for adults over 30

    The Star article published June 10, 2021

    By Lori Thompson, The Manitoulin Expositor

    Five people 31 years and older began a life-changing journey on May 26 when Gwekwaadziwin Miikan (Gwek) kicked off a year long pilot project. There are five people in each cohort in addition to the 10 in the original Seven Grandfathers program for 19 to 30 year olds. A total of 15 individuals in three cohorts for adults 30 plus years are expected to complete the pilot program.

    Gwek has 10 spots available for each of its original 19 to 30 year old cohorts. “Sometimes there are 110 people on our application list,” said Sam Gilchrist, executive director. “We work to find the best services for all applicants and from there, we look at people who are a good fit for Gwek’s land-based program.”

    The pilot project is very needs driven and evolved through ongoing conversations, said Mr. Gilchrist. “We’re very active on social media, especially Facebook, and we’ve received numerous requests for service from people 30 plus years old. We also have a very good relationship with our funders and the various treatment centres and healing lodges. We all come together and meet with the ministry. If there’s an issue, we work together to try to solve it.”

    The need for mental health and addiction services has increased dramatically since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. “The ministry was approaching their fiscal year end and there were extra dollars available,” Mr. Gilchrist said. “They asked if we could do something to fill some of those gaps.”

    They weren’t sure if it would work. The Gwek team had always thought it was important to have smaller cohorts to maintain group dynamics. They asked whether they could make their cohort larger. “On May 26, we welcomed five 30 plus individuals into the existing program,” he said. It seems to be working. “You have 15 people and three or more staff and it feels like a bustling community coming together to experience living with the land and living with wellness.”

    There are some distinct aspects that are specific to their age group, but otherwise, it’s the same as the original. This year’s participants will build another 30-foot canoe through a partnership with Rob Mellan. “We do a lot of canoe tripping and that leads to fishing and gathering plant medicines on the islands,” Mr. Gilchrist said. The fall cohort usually completes a 200 plus km canoe trip the length of the Spanish River to Killarney and back to Manitoulin. This year, they have to see what’s happening with the pandemic before finalizing plans.

    “We’ve always participated in the UCCMM (United Chiefs of Mnidoo Mnising) community moose hunt,” he continued. “Our program participants help with different aspects. They help with set up and clean up and then embark on the canoe trip. It’s an amazing opportunity to serve their community and give back to them.”

    In addition to the hunt, some participants have begun learning to assist on the trap lines. They help with move out and work the trapline with the head trappers. All participants learn many unique life kills, including working with traditional leather crafts or using beaver fur to make mittens. “This all helps to strengthen their connection with the land and to each other,” Mr. Gilchrist explained. “There are a lot of lessons.”

    With the winter cohorts, there is storytelling, snowshoeing and cutting through the ice for fishing. There was an initial hesitancy in applications for the winter months, but now it’s almost equal for the seasons, he said. “They all have something to teach.”

    The program has continued to evolve as new things work well and other things not as well. “That’s some of the beauty of the program, that it’s open and flexible. Our staff bring their own skills and passions and share those with the cohorts and other staff members so they’re always evolving, building skills and developing (into well-rounded people). Things change seasonally.”

    The onset of COVID meant Gwek had to look at alternate ways of doing things. They decided to do a closed cohort; initially, the coverts overlapped. They weren’t sure how it was going to work but the data shows it did. “Prior to COVID we had a 60 to 70 percent success rate but with the closed cohort model the success rate has gone up to 80 percent,” Mr. Gilchrist said. “Our aftercare program has seen a 100 percent success rate (even pre-COVID) in obtaining vocational, educational and also volunteer opportunities, mostly vocational and educational. We’re really pleased and we’ve proven our models.”

    Outside of the staff and participant community building, the program owes its success to collaborations with other organizations and communities. Mr. Gilchrist acknowledged Gwek’s partnerships with each of the six UCCMM communities they serve as well as Kenjgewin Teg, Manitoulin Health Centre, Noojmowin Teg Health Centre, Mnaamodzawin Health Services, Assiginack Family Health Team, Cambrian College, Centennial College and the pandemic paramedic program through the manitoulin-Sudbury District Services Board. It does indeed take a village.

    The Seven Grandfathers program is a unique residential land-based treatment program created to meet the needs of Indigenous youth and young adults ages 19 to 30 years. Participants are supported on their recovery journey from stabilization through treatment, aftercare and transitioning back into their communities. The program balances traditional culture with therapeutic best practices.

    Read the full article here

  • Bits & Pieces: cancer screening during the pandemic and more

    Bits & Pieces: cancer screening during the pandemic and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • Cancer screening during the pandemic and onwards, June 21
    • Reminder- COVID-19 Education with Daniel Warshafsky, June 9
    • Reminder- Update on the Ontario Structured Psychotherapy Program, June 10
    • Member stories
    • AstraZeneca/COVISHIELD second dose Q&A, reports of myocarditis/pericarditis after vaccination and more
    • You could have over 22,619 pairs of eyes on your team’s initiative!
    • COVID@Home update
    • Upcoming events regarding geriatric clinical pharmacology and more

    Cancer screening during the pandemic and onwards, June 21

    In collaboration with our primary care partners and Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario), we will be hosting a webinar to further explore guidance for resuming breast, cervical and colorectal cancer screening and share stories from teams that have already resumed cancer screening.

    Objectives:

    • To understand the guidance for resuming breast, cervical and colorectal cancer screening resumption midst the many waves of the pandemic.
    • To explore how to use data to understand and address health inequities in screening/tailoring service delivery as well as tools to improve screening rates.
    • To learn from practices the creative approaches such as EMR queries, clinics and much more.

    Register here.

    Reminder- COVID-19 Education with Daniel Warshafsky, Office of CMOH, June 9
    This session with Dr. Daniel Warshafsky, Associate Medical Officer of Health at the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health will cover key questions, including variants of concern, AstraZeneca and mixing of vaccines, breakthrough cases and emerging evidence around vaccination for children 12-17 years old. Nicole Blackman, Provincial Director at the Indigenous Primary Health Care Council will talk about why Indigenous people are prioritized to receive vaccines. Register here.

    Reminder- Update on the Ontario Structured Psychotherapy Program, June 10

    The Ministry of Health has recently approved six health service providers to serve as new lead organizations of regional psychotherapy networks for the Ontario Structured Psychotherapy (OSP) Program, one of which is AFHTO member CarePoint Health.

    The Mental Health and Addictions Centre of Excellence at Ontario Health would like to invite primary care organizations to a webinar on June 10 to learn more about the program’s background, the vision of OSP as a provincial program, and next steps with the expansion.

    Register here.

    Member stories

    Barrie and Community FHT- Barrie & Area launched their COVID@Home monitoring program

    East Wellington FHT– Lions Club donates $4,000 to East Wellington Family Health Team

    North Perth-North Huron FHT– North Perth Family Health Team, It Takes A Village start vaccine awareness partnership

    STAR and Stratford FHTs– Perth County primary care providers partnered together to offer about 500 COVID-19 vaccine doses

    AstraZeneca/COVISHIELD second dose Q&A, reports of myocarditis/pericarditis after vaccination and more

    Recent updates include:

    We continue to update several pages on our site with resources and news:

    You could have up to 22,619 pairs of eyes on your team’s initiative!

    This week we’re asking for your teams’ stories on:

    AFHTO wants to feature your stories!

    –    COVID Vaccine education (myth-busting, Q&As, etc)
    –    Providing COVID-19 vaccines or supporting vaccine rollout beyond your team
    Be sure to share before Tuesday, June 15th so we can feature it on AFHTO’s social media!

    @AFHTO | info@afhto.ca| Webform submission

    COVID@Home update

    Per Ontario Health:
    “If you monitored COVID+ patients in April and May please consider entering your data on that  specific timeframe in our new easy to use DATA FORM.  For those that have already done so thank you!  For questions on this e -mail OH_COVIDatHome@ontariohealth.ca.  We will use this information to show the value of primary care in such initiatives and for quality improvement purposes. Thank you for your continued participation in this initiative.”

    Geriatric Clinical Pharmacology and GeriMedRisk: drug safety for older adults beyond “Start Low, Go Slow”, June 24

    Co-hosted with GeriMedRisk, in this webinar, Dr. Ho will review the pharmacology of aging and its impact on adverse drug events among seniors. We’ll also explore tools and services for primary care providers to use to optimize drug safety. Register here.

    COVID@Home Community of Practice, June 9 & 23, 2021
    Learn how to monitor your COVID-19 patients in the community through this CoP.
    Learn more here.

    A Morning with the Lung Experts: What’s Trending in Primary Care? June 12, 2021

    Join Dr. Tony D’Urzo and the Lung Health Foundation Experts as they explore emerging respiratory care issues.
    Find out more here.

    Applying an Equity Lens when Caring for your Population, June 17, 2021

    This RISE OHT webinar will be based on a PHM approach, deep diving into co-designing care models for different priority populations.
    Learn more here.

    Primary Care Vaccination QI Support CoP, June 17 & July 8, 2021
    Join PCPs, EDs & clinical managers from AFHTO, AHC & NPLCA to share learnings, tools and strategies to deliver COVID-19 vaccines in Ontario.
    Find out more here.

  • Tilbury District, Chatham-Kent and Thamesview FHTs partner with community to provide 2 pop-up COVID-19 vaccination clinics

    iHeartRadio article published May 25, 2021

    By Lindsay Charlton, CTV Windsor

    Two COVID-19 vaccine community clinics will be popping up in Chatham-Kent for those 18 and older looking to get their shot.

    A pop-up COVID-19 vaccine clinic hosted at Tillbury District Family Health Team at 22 Mill Street in Tilbury will take place on Thursday for anyone 18 years and older. The clinic will be administering Moderna vaccines. Appointments can be booked by calling 519-682-2307 ext. 303.

    “This is great news! We are pleased to announce that pop up clinics are coming to your community! We want to make it easy for anyone who wants to be vaccinated to be able to do so. Offering this opportunity to our citizens in C-K is another step closer to getting us back to a sense of normalcy. Vaccines save lives,” primary care vaccination lead, Dr. Vishal Chawla, said in a news release.

    A second pop-up will be held on Thursday, June 3 hosted by Chatham-Kent Community Health Centres in Wallaceburg at 808 Dufferin Avenue.

    The clinic will be administering Moderna to members of the public 18 and older. Those looking to book an appointment can do so by calling 519-397-5455 ext. 322.

    The two COVID-19 vaccine clinics are being offered through a partnership with the Tillbury District Family Health Team, Chatham-Kent Community Health Centres, Chatham-Kent Family Health Team, Thamesview Family Health Team, Medavie EMS Ontario, Chatham-Kent Ontario Health Team and are supported by Chatham-Kent Public Health.

     

    Read the full article here

  • Tilbury District, Chatham-Kent and Thamesview FHTs partner Vaccination Clinic Draws Record Turnout

    Chatham Daily news article published May 21, 2021

    By Mark Malone, Chatham Kent Daily News

    A record turnout rolled up their sleeves at a mobile COVID-19 vaccination clinic Friday at Wallaceburg Memorial Arena.

    WALLACEBURG – A record turnout rolled up their sleeves at a mobile COVID-19 vaccination clinic Friday at Wallaceburg Memorial Arena.

    More than 1,100 people – more than at any previous mobile clinic in Chatham-Kent – were scheduled to receive a dose.

    “It’s nice the communities and surrounding areas are taking advantage of us being in those areas,” said Donald MacLellan, general manager of Chatham-Kent emergency medical services.

    The previous mobile clinics in Wheatley and Highgate drew more than 400 people apiece.

    The Chatham-Kent vaccination team was able to book more people indoors at Wallaceburg Memorial Arena than at previous sites. Ten stations were set up for the 10-and-a-half-hour clinic.

    Most visitors were receiving their first dose, but some were getting their second.

    “We’ve been doing this long enough. People are getting to that 16-week mark for second doses,” MacLellan said.

    Two more pop-up clinics for adults 18 and older were announced Friday by the Chatham-Kent Ontario Health Team. They’ll be held Thursday, May 27, in Tilbury and Thursday, June 3, in Wallaceburg.

    The May 27 clinic will be hosted by the Tilbury District Family Health Team at 22 Mill St. Call 519-682-2307 ext. 303 to book an appointment. Phone messages will be checked on the weekend and on Victoria Day.

    The June 3 clinic will be hosted by Chatham-Kent Community Health Centres at 808 Dufferin Ave. Call 519-397-5455 ext. 322 to book an appointment.

    The Moderna vaccine will be given at the May 27 and June 3 clinics, which are being delivered through a partnership of theTilbury District Family Health Team, the Chatham-Kent Community Health Centres, the Chatham-Kent Family Health Team, the Thamesview Family Health Team, Medavie EMS Ontario and the Chatham-Kent Ontario Health Team with support from the Chatham-Kent public health unit.

    “We want to make it easy for anyone who wants to be vaccinated to be able to do so,” Dr. Vishal Chawla, the primary care vaccination lead, said in a statement. “Offering this opportunity to our citizens in C-K is another step closer to getting us back to a sense of normalcy. Vaccines save lives!”

    The Chatham-Kent Ontario Health Team said more pop-up community clinics will be coming soon.

     

    Read the full article here

  • Georgian Bay FHT & OHT partners opens appointments for COVID-19 Vaccines in Collingwood

    Collingwood Today published May 25, 2021

    By Collingwood Today Staff

    The local family health team is also offering second doses of AstraZeneca to anyone who had their first dose between March 10 and 19.

    Are you 18+ and waiting to receive your first dose of COVID-19 vaccine?  

    Appointments still remain for the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine clinic being held in Collingwood tomorrow, May 26 from 2 to 6 p.m.  

    Click here to book now through the South Georgian Bay Ontario Health Team. 

    AstraZeneca – second dose

    If you received your first dose of AstraZeneca vaccine between March 10 and March 19, we have received a small supply of AstraZeneca (AZ) vaccine that we are able to offer for your second dose at the Collingwood drive-thru vaccine clinic on Saturday, May 29. The current recommendation by  AstraZeneca is to give the second dose four to 12 weeks after your first dose, with 12 weeks offering optimal protection. Click here for more information about safety, efficacy and dosing intervals.  

    Dr. Sohail Gandhi, local family physician and past President of the Ontario Medical Association, answers some frequently asked questions below. These answers are not specific medical advice for you as an individual, only general answers based on current information. 

    1. What should I know about the safety of the AZ vaccine? 

    There is no such thing as a vaccine/medicine/treatment that is 100 per cent guaranteed. However, the  AZ vaccine, and indeed, all of the current COVID vaccines, are amongst the safest vaccines available. If you got a sore arm, fever, headaches or muscle pains with your first dose, it would be helpful to take Tylenol 1000 mg three times a day, the day before, the day of, and the day after your second dose. Generally, these symptoms are very short-lived (24-48 hours) and are an indication that your body is mounting an immune response – that is to say, the vaccine is working. 

    2. What should I know about the risk of Vaccine-Induced Immune Thrombotic Thrombocytopenia (VITT) after second doses of AZ vaccine? 

    The first thing is that the risk of this is very, very low. The second thing is that in England (where over 30 million doses of AZ have been given), it has been noted that if you did not get VITT after the first dose, you are not going to get it with the second dose.

    3. What other options might become available to me if I delay my second dose?

    As of today, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization has recommended using the same vaccine for first and second dose. We will update as soon as new information becomes available. 

    Click here to book now if you feel that you have sufficient information and wish to proceed to book your second dose of AZ vaccine.  

    If booking is full and you are unable to book an appointment at this time, please keep checking our website as we will continue to add appointments according to demand and vaccine supply.

    Please do not call your Family Physician’s office or the Georgian Bay Family Health Team. 

    If you proceed to booking and attend our drive-thru clinic, we ask that everyone arrive as close to their appointment time as possible (not early or late) to avoid traffic congestion. Wear loose clothing.

    Please note that you are only eligible for this clinic if your first dose was given between March 10 and 19. You will be turned away if this is not the case.

     

    Read the full article here

  • Central Lambton FHT provides 440 COVID-19 vaccines, hopeful for more

    The Independent published April 29, 2021

    By Healther Wright, The Independent

    It was all hands on deck as the Central Lambton Family Health Team (CLFHT) hosted a large vaccination clinic at the Greenwood Recreation Centre in Petrolia.

    The town suggested the doctors use the vacant arena to hold a clinic which was first expected to give about 200 people their vaccine against COVID-19. The first batch of doses was spoken for quickly. Lambton Public Health offered another 100 doses and they too, were claimed early.

    By the time the clinic opened Friday, there were 400 doses available. Around 5:30 pm, the health team put out the word there were 40 additional doses available as health team staff were able to get 11 doses out of each vial instead of 10.

    In all, 440 people were given their first dose of the vaccine.

    Executive Director, Sarah Milner, was thrilled with the turnout and the town’s help getting the clinic set up. She said the infrastructure will remain in the hopes more clinics will be possible in the future.

    About 34 per cent of eligible Lambton residents have now had their first vaccine.

    Lambton Public Health said April 22 that 40,103 people have been vaccinated including 2,340 who have had both doses.

    Dr. Sudit Ranade told Lambton County councillors public health is getting a steady supply of about 5,000 doses per week, however the mass vaccination clinic has been scaled back to three days a week. He says it is more efficient to deliver the available doses in three days.

    Read the full article here

  • Central Lambton FHT provides 440 COVID-19 vaccines, hopeful for more

    The Independent published April 29, 2021

    By Healther Wright, The Independent

    It was all hands on deck as the Central Lambton Family Health Team (CLFHT) hosted a large vaccination clinic at the Greenwood Recreation Centre in Petrolia.

    The town suggested the doctors use the vacant arena to hold a clinic which was first expected to give about 200 people their vaccine against COVID-19. The first batch of doses was spoken for quickly. Lambton Public Health offered another 100 doses and they too, were claimed early.

    By the time the clinic opened Friday, there were 400 doses available. Around 5:30 pm, the health team put out the word there were 40 additional doses available as health team staff were able to get 11 doses out of each vial instead of 10.

    In all, 440 people were given their first dose of the vaccine.

    Executive Director, Sarah Milner, was thrilled with the turnout and the town’s help getting the clinic set up. She said the infrastructure will remain in the hopes more clinics will be possible in the future.

    About 34 per cent of eligible Lambton residents have now had their first vaccine.

    Lambton Public Health said April 22 that 40,103 people have been vaccinated including 2,340 who have had both doses.

    Dr. Sudit Ranade told Lambton County councillors public health is getting a steady supply of about 5,000 doses per week, however the mass vaccination clinic has been scaled back to three days a week. He says it is more efficient to deliver the available doses in three days.

    The clinic has the capacity to deliver 2,500 per day.

    A number of weekly data points from public health show a downward trend in the pandemic in Lambton. The region now has 59 cases of COVID-19 for every 100,000 people – that’s down from 68 last week. However it is still in the red or grey lockdown region of the provincial reopening framework.

    Officials say 1.9 per cent of the tests being done are now positive; that’s down from 2.8 per cent last week.

    Dr. David Williams told reporters Thursday, after the number of new cases dipped below 3,700, that while Ontario is in a “precarious position.

    “All indications show we might be starting to bend the curve a bit, there has not been enough time yet, but we’re just starting to see the effect of the stay-at-home order, but we’re not there yet.”

     

    Read the full article here