Renfrew County health unit a couple weeks away from vaccinating residents over 80

The Renfrew County and District Health Unit (RCDHU) doesn't have enough COVID-19 supply to be able to vaccinate any of its residents over the age of 80, but it's hoping to be able to start in the next couple of weeks.

RCDHU Acting Medical Officer of Health Dr. Robert Cushman says their vaccination teams are just about done administering shots in local long-term care homes, but, like many other health units in Ontario, they're left waiting for more vaccines.

“That's always the $64,000 question — when these vaccines are coming,” says the doctor. “February was a pretty lean month, and we're seeing an increase in supplies, now that we're into March. Probably, it's going to take us another two weeks before we can sufficient vaccine supplies to be able to focus on the over-80 group.”

Another challenge facing the RCDHU is getting vaccines to residents in remote areas, as the health unit covers such a large area.

“And the clock is ticking,” adds Dr. Cushman.

The Renfrew County district has seen about 350 cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic started in March of 2020, and it's one of the few regions to have come out of the most recent lockdown in the 'green' zone of Ontario's COVID-19 recovery framework. Dr. Cushman says the area has received fewer doses of the vaccine as a result.