Residents of long-term care homes in Elgin and Oxford counties hard hit by COVID-19 began receiving the vaccine this week.
Southwestern Public Health, the region's health unit, announced 118 residents of Maple Manor in Tillsonburg, Extendicare in Port Stanley, and Peoplecare in Tavistock rolled up their sleeve for the first of two doses on Tuesday.
“We are so happy to share a good news story during an otherwise difficult time," Dr. Joyce Lock, the region's medical officer of health, said in a statement. "As a result of significant planning and strong partnership, the Pfizer vaccine was transferred from London Health Sciences Centre to homes in our region assessed to have an urgent need. [Tuesday] was an exciting first step in protecting the most vulnerable in our community."
Due to the limited supply, the health unit noted only those who have not tested positive for the virus were given the shot during this round of inoculations. Anyone who previously tested positive for COVID-19 will have a "level of natural immunity" upon recovery, the health unit added. Once the vaccine supply increases, public health officials will return to the homes to give the remaining residents the shot.
Between the two counties there are 1,378 long-term care home residents and more than 500 retirement home residents.
Vaccination of staff at the facilities began in December at the Western Fair Agriplex in London and are continuing this week. The plan is to have the first dose administered to all eligible long-term care and retirement home residents and staff, and essential caregivers by mid-February.
Maple Manor has the worst COVID-19 outbreak in the jurisdiction covered by Southwestern Public Health with 80 residents and 48 staff members infected. Eleven deaths have been linked to the outbreak.