Tomorrow’s the day the Porcupine Health Unit moves into the mass vaccination phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. It has clinics in Timmins and Smooth Rock Falls for people 80 and older.
Today, the media and dignitaries were given a tour of the set-up at the Timmins clinic at the Mountjoy Arena. Communications specialist Gary Schelling noted the clinics are for first doses.
“Everybody that comes through these doors in the next couple of weeks will have to get a second dose,” he outlined. “We’re only using the Moderna (vaccine) right now, and it’s 100 days give or take before they can have their second dose.”
Schelling adds that health unit staff are not the only people giving the needles.
“We have members of EMS. We have paramedics. We have a variety of people who are also helping us out with immunization clinics.”
The next Timmins clinic is next Wednesday and is for indigenous, Metis and Inuit people 55 and older. Appointments must be booked in advance.