Moderna COVID-19 vaccine vials. (Photo courtesy of the Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit)Moderna COVID-19 vaccine vials. (Photo courtesy of the Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit)
Sarnia

Lambton vaccine roll-out falling well short of available capacity

Lambton Public Health says vaccine supply has to increase significantly to meet the area's current capacity for administering shots.

In an update Wednesday, the Immunization Task Force said right now it can deliver 12,000 to 15,000 doses per week through fixed and mobile clinics, but weekly vaccine supplies so far have averaged only around 5,000 doses.

The health unit had to postpone two immunization clinics this week in Forest and Brooke-Alvinston, and the Point Edward clinic has been cut back to three days this week.

Lambton Medical Officer of Health Dr. Sudit Ranade, during a media briefing, said they're hoping to get more Moderna vaccine Thursday which will allow more clinics to be run.

"The issue really is that the dates they had established from Moderna for us last week, or the week before, are being extended out," said Dr. Ranade. "The supplies that we're getting are being broken up into smaller shipments than we were expecting. So, there's a bunch of that kind of thing happening just because of the overall supply chain with respect to Moderna. There's a lot more unpredictability in that right now."

Lambton County is in Phase 2 of the provincial Immunization plan that includes adults 60 years of age and older, essential caregivers of adults receiving chronic home-care, and the first group of essential workers who cannot work from home.

So far, 35,443 Lambton residents have received a COVID-19 vaccine, including 1,575 who have had both shots. That's 31 per cent of the eligible population.

-With files from Colin Gowdy

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