The following media release was received Mar.5, 2021
St. Francis Memorial Hospital (SFMH), the Madawaska Valley Family Health Team (MVFHT) and Rainbow Valley Community Health Centre (RVCHC), in partnership with the Renfrew County District Health Unit (RCDHU), are excited to announce they have vaccinated 200 local Health Care Workers (HCW) and SFMH patients. Above: Support Workers from the Madawaska Valley Association for Community Living, Peter Ritchie and Sheila Sitler, wait for 15 minutes in the observation area after receiving their immunizations. photo submitted
Recent amendments to the province’s prioritization list have allowed for all health care workers to receive the COVID-19 vaccine ahead of community rollouts.
The vaccinated HCW from SFMH, RVCHC, MV Hospice, MV Family Health Team, MV Association for Community Living include physicians, nurses, personal support workers, and other frontline staff such as environmental services, admitting, lab and x-ray.
“Receiving the vaccine not only protects the staff in their roles and helps to keep the most vulnerable in our community safe, it is also a wonderful way for our health care team to demonstrate leadership by showing others how important it is for everyone to get the vaccine,” says Julia Boudreau, SFMH CEO.
St. Francis Memorial Hospital received notice late in February that it would be receiving allotted vaccines on March 2, notes Chief Operating Officer Greg McLeod. “In the short time since then, a dedicated team of staff, led by RN Erica Atfield, has worked very hard to plan and prepare the immunization clinic so it could happen as quickly and as efficiently as possible.”
Lorraine Briggs, a patient at SFMH, receives her immunization from RPN Kelsey Scrimm. photo submitted
SFMH was tasked with delivery of the vaccine not only to its own patients and frontline health care staff, but also to seniors living in congregate settings such as residents of Champlain Gardens (formerly Watertower Lodge), MVACL and Madonna House. These seniors are at higher risk than others who can better isolate in their homes and so are prioritized over other community residents.
The two-day clinic was held in the Health Centre and all patients and staff were pre-booked. Unlike flu clinics, Ontario Health and Public Health require data collection such as Health Card numbers, phone numbers, addresses, etc., and a longer observation time post vaccination, so walk-in appointments are not allowed. Pre-booking ensures that everyone is seen and immunized in a timely manner and the second dose can be scheduled when necessary.
Christina Szczygiel, an RN in the SFMH Emergency Department was the first staff member to receive the vaccine. “The COVID vaccination protects us and allows the health care professionals to continue to provide care for our sick and vulnerable community members who must visit the Emergency Department,” she said. “As a healthcare worker, I have peace of mind that I am not transmitting it to our patients when they seek treatment at the hospital, nor am I exposing my own family to it. I have had to take extra precautions to make sure that my job as a nurse is not making my own family vulnerable to this virus, especially my daughter who is asthmatic. Widespread vaccination for the coronavirus means that the virus will not infect as many people and I encourage all members of our community to be vaccinated when it is made available to them.”
“While widespread community clinics have not been announced yet, we are following the prioritization of the population as set out by the province and the health unit,” said Dr. Jason Malinowski, Chief of Staff at SFMH. “In a team effort with all our partners—SFMH, MV Family Health Team, RVCHC, South Algonquin Family Health Team and our municipal partners—we are working to ensure preparation for when the immunizations are made available.”
Dr. Rob Cushman, Acting Medical Officer of Health for the Renfrew County and District, said vaccine shipments are now arriving quickly and Renfrew County is well prepared. “What impresses me most about the vaccine rollout is the commitment, collaboration, and ‘can do’ attitude from the entire health sector. This is priority one, to protect the public and bring the pandemic to an end, and everyone is putting their heart and soul into it. On behalf of the people of Renfrew County and District, I thank you.”
Widespread vaccination will help to protect our community and help us all return to life as we knew it. Although we still need to persist with physical distancing, hand hygiene and wearing a mask for a bit longer, today marks a day of change. The vaccine arrival is a turning point and every day from here on in is a step toward protecting our community and allowing us to come together again. Please get the shot!
St. Francis Memorial Hospital(2021,Mar.5) Protecting Health Care Staff, Protecting our Community— COVID-19 vaccine progress [media release]