August 27, 2021 – The Marathon Family Health Team (MFHT) administered 60 doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine on August 26^th, including 30 first doses and 30 second doses.

Overall, 2969 first doses and 2723 second doses have been administered to the eligible population in our catchment area. This means that 78% of our 12+ population has received one dose and that 72% has received both doses. Thank you to everyone who has chosen to get vaccinated – you are making a difference!

It’s not too late to get your shot!

The MFHT believes that the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones from COVID-19 infection is by getting the COVID-19 vaccine. Being fully vaccinated is especially important now that the more infectious Delta variant is spreading across the province and country.

Choosing to become vaccinated can benefit you for many reasons as it can:

• Prevent you from becoming seriously ill or hospitalized if you ever get COVID-19;
• Help keep businesses and schools open as we head into the fall;
• Prevent the healthcare system from becoming overwhelmed;
• Help keep Ontario on the right track to fully reopening;
• Help you avoid a 10-day self-isolation period if you are ever in close contact with someone who tests positive for COVID-19, which means that you will miss less work and school;
• Make travelling within and outside of Canada easier; and,
• Allow you to participate in more non-essential activities, such as indoor dining, attending concerts or sporting events, etc. especially if vaccine passports are ever implemented in Ontario.
  

Upcoming COVID-19 vaccination events & eligibility criteria

The MFHT will be offering COVID-19 vaccination clinics on September 29^th and on October 27^th.

Eligible individuals who were born in 2009 or earlier can now access first or second doses of the vaccine. Third doses of the vaccine are also now being offered to specific groups of vulnerable adults, including:

• Transplant recipients (including solid organ transplant and hematopoietic stem cell transplants),
• Patients with hematological cancers (e.g. lymphoma, myeloma, leukemia) on active treatment (chemotherapy, targeted therapies, immunotherapy), and
• Recipients of an anti-CD20 agent (e.g. rituximab, ocrelizumab, ofatumumab), and
• Residents of high-risk congregate settings.

At this time, the MFHT is waiting for more guidance from the Thunder Bay District Health Unit regarding the residents of congregate settings in our communities and whether or not they are eligible for a third dose of the vaccine. More information will be shared as soon as it’s available.

Accessing COVID-19 vaccines in the fall

If you are unable to attend any of the MFHT’s upcoming COVID-19 vaccination clinics, there are other vaccination opportunities available to you, including:

• Calling the Marathon Pharmacy to be put on a waitlist for a Moderna vaccine (807-229-1670),
• Scheduling an appointment in Thunder Bay for a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine (Thunder Bay also offers many walk-in vaccination clinics), or
• Scheduling a vaccination appointment or attending a walk-in clinic in other communities across Ontario if you happen to be travelling to any of them.

To schedule a vaccination appointment at the MFHT, please call 807-229-3243, email [email protected], or visit https://mfht.org and click on “book your COVID vaccine”.