Frontline healthcare workers in Leeds, Grenville and Lanark getting COVID-19 vaccines

High-risk healthcare workers are getting their first doses of COVID-19 vaccine in the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark district.

“Those would be people in emergency departments, ICU's, paramedics that are responding to calls about sick people,” says Medical Officer of Health for the LGL Health Unit, Dr. Paula Stewart.

Kemptville District Hospital Nurse Debbie Allingham was among the first of many to get vaccinated this week.

The Leeds, Grenville and Lanark (LGL) District Health Unit has already opened clinics in Almonte and Kemptville, and sites are opening in Smiths Falls and Brockville in the coming days.  

The clinics will be provide vaccinations to specific groups on a rotational basis, based on guidelines set by the Ontario Ministry of Health:

Stage 1: Long-Term Care Homes/High risk Retirement Homes Staff, Residents and Designated Essential Care Givers
Stage 2: Highest priority and very high priority Health Care Workers (HCW) and Adults (80+)
Stage 3: High priority Health Care Workers, residents and staff of congregate living facilities (such as group homes, shelters, low risk retirement homes), all Indigenous adults, adult recipients of homecare
Stage 4: Moderate priority Health Care Workers, Essential Workers (first responders, teachers, food industry, etc)
Stage 5: High Risk population (to be defined by Ministry of Health) and beginning of age cohorting (ages 60+ to start)
Stage 6: All others in Leeds, Grenville and Lanark that are 16 + and would like the vaccine
The health unit is still in Phase 1 of its vaccine rollout this week, and by mid-March, plans to add healthcare workers who have direct contact with people at a higher risk of contracting COVID-19.

All appointments are booked ahead of time and there are no walk-ins. 

For more information, you can visit the Local Vaccine Status Page, connect with the LGL Health Unit through Facebook or Twitter, or call 1-800-660-5853 extension 2100.