March 5th, 2021 – The first week of March was an exciting time in the community of Marathon. The Marathon Family Health Team (MFHT), with the support of the North of Superior Healthcare Group (NOSH) and the Peninsula Manor, managed to quickly, effectively and successfully administer the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to 306 individuals in our community.
After much anticipation, first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine were administered to individuals in the specific priority groups listed below:
- Chronic Complex Care and Alternative Level of Care patients and their essential care partners,
- residents at the Peninsula Manor and their essential care partners, and
- highest and very high priority healthcare workers, including medical first responders.
The MFHT and NOSH are delighted that some of the highest risk individuals in our communities have received added protection against COVID-19 this week. We look forward to offering a first dose of the vaccine to other Phase 1 priority groups, including adults 80 years of age and older, Indigenous adults, lower risk healthcare workers and chronic home care recipients, in the near future.
Dr. Sayali Tadwalkar, Chief of Staff at NOSH and Family Physician at the MFHT, was one of the first highest priority healthcare workers to receive her COVID-19 vaccine in Marathon. “I am grateful for the technology and all the hard work locally that has gone into getting the vaccine here and into our arms,” says Dr. Tadwalkar. “The vaccine clinics have been run excellently by our staff and volunteers. This pandemic has been a very real example of how interconnected we are locally, nationally and globally. Each individual matters in others’ health and wellbeing so let’s continue to distance together until we no longer have to!”
The MFHT would like to recognize all of the hardworking booking staff, immunizers, clerks, healthcare assistants and volunteers who helped make our first COVID-19 immunization events a success, as well as all eligible individuals who got their vaccine and took an important step towards keeping themselves and our communities safe.
We would also like to acknowledge the Thunder Bay and District Health Unit for their support throughout our local COVID-19 vaccine planning process and for delivering vaccines to our community despite many logistical challenges.
To help keep our teams energized throughout the immunization process, Barrick Hemlo Mine donated lunch for both vaccination events. They also donated sandwiches for all of the residents of Peninsula Manor who received their vaccines on March 2nd. Barrick’s support and generosity are greatly appreciated.
Our local healthcare team looks forward to continuing to work together to ensure timely and regular vaccine deliveries to our community. While vaccine availability may be limited at first, over time, more immunization clinics will be scheduled and anyone eligible to receive the vaccine will be able to receive one.
