Author: angelaarenberg

An update from Hope Brock, the Healthy Watersheds Technician from the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority:

Hello Turtlewatchers!

What an amazing spring we’ve been having so far.  Thanks to those who have sent in those early turtle reports.  I will be sending out some more information about turtles next week, so please watch for that.  Just a quick note to say that I have been working on an electronic reporting form, which will hopefully make the whole reporting process a little simpler.

I would like to bring your attention to an exciting webinar that we’re hosting next week (details below).  It should be an interesting presentation on some local research in your own backyards.  Hope you can attend.

ABCA will be hosting a webinar with Dr. Nick Mandrak from the University of Toronto and Royal Ontario Museum Tuesday April 13^th at 7pm.

Nick has recently moved to Grand Bend and is a phenomenal researcher and speaker. He is excited to share his research with the residents of the OAC and Port Franks, and discuss community and citizen science projects regarding fish Species at Risk. The webinar will be about an hour long, plus a Question and Answer period at the end.

After you register with the link below, the meeting link will be sent out on Tuesday early afternoon.

Please let me know if you have any questions and feel free to share the invitation with your neighbours.

Hope Brock, MSc

Vaccination registration continues – details provided on the vaccine registration page.

• Currently registering individuals 60 years old or older in 2021 through the Provincial Booking System for COVID-19 vaccines.
• In addition, a pre-registration process is also underway for one in-home caregiver who resides in the same householdas the 70 years old or older individual and Phase 2 eligible groups. Individuals with an eligible health condition and their caregiver can also begin the registration process – see the full details on the vaccine registration page.
• Your local pharmacy may be offering the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine for those aged 55 and over. Pharmacy vaccination clinics are not affiliated to Lambton Public Health. Find out more and book your appointment here: https://covid-19.ontario.ca/vaccine-locations.

As of March 31, 2021 – A total of 23,042 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered. 20% of the eligible population in Lambton County have received one or more doses. Status of administered immunizations is updated weekly each Wednesday through the main COVID-19 dashboard.

Lambton Public Health continues to expand the local vaccination rollout as vaccine supply continues. All current vaccine supply is moving out the door efficiently as we receive it.

Here is a summary of vaccination appointment registration options available to us. The situation evolves quickly so this might be out of date by the time you read this. This addresses some of your questions and shares lots of helpful information provided by Huron Woods members. Hoping this summary is helpful

Lambton Public Health

• Currently registering individuals 70 years old or older in 2021 through the Provincial Booking System for COVID-19 vaccines.
• In addition, a pre-registration process is also underway for one in-home caregiver who resides in the same household as the 70 years old or older individual and Phase 2 eligible groups.

Lambton Public Health has three fixed site clinic locations:

• Point Edward Arena/Optimist Club Community Hall
• Wyoming Fairgrounds
• The Shores Recreation Centre (Forest Arena)

Fun Fact: Lambton Public Health is using the provincial registration system which asks you to provide a postal code. N0M 1T0 defaults to Huron Perth. Huron Perth has been vaccinating Grand Bend residents in Goderich, Exeter and Stratford. I believe you can call Lambton Public Health to get an appointment in Lambton, but I am hearing that folks are not having much success because of call volumes. 

Here is the link to Lambton Public Health’s Coronavirus Vaccine page:

https://lambtonpublichealth.ca/2019-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-vaccines/

Pharmacies

People 55 and older are eligible for the Astra Zeneca vaccine which is being distributed through pharmacies. To book an appointment for a vaccination with a pharmacy, you will have to contact the pharmacy directly. Pharmacies are accepting registrations from outside of the neighbourhood – you don’t have to wait until/if the vaccine is available in a Grand Bend pharmacy. I know of a Grand Bender who travelled to Tecumseh last week for a vaccination. It took a bit of time calling around, but had no trouble making an appointment once she got through to the Walmart. 

To book an appointment at a Pharmacy in Lambton County you can use this link:

COVID-19 pharmacy vaccine locations (ontario.ca)

Pharmacy Pre-Registrations

For everyone, regardless of age, Shoppers Drug Mart pharmacies are accepting pre registrations now and will contact you when you are eligible. I have heard from a couple of Huron Woods members who have successfully registered. 

Here is the Shoppers link.
https://covid-19.shoppersdrugmart.ca/en

Pharmasave also has a covid vaccination page:
https://pharmasave.com/covid-19-vaccines/

Vaccination Rollout in the News

There was a bit of confusion yesterday when the news of pharmacies in Lambton County providing vaccinations got ahead of the pharmacies being advised of details. Here is an article from the Observer which you might find helpful. 

Pharmacies in Lambton to offer COVID-19 vaccines | Sarnia & Lambton County This Week (sarniathisweek.com)

Need Help?

There are volunteers in Huron Woods who would happily help you with booking an appointment. Let me know by emailing hwca@hwca.ca if you need help and how you can be reached and a volunteer will contact you.

Apparently pharmacies in Sarnia and Forest don’t have the vaccines yet, don’t know when they are coming or how much they will get.

Here is the link to the page listing all the pharmacists that are expected to be taking part in the vaccination program. The good news is that there are quite a few within reasonable driving distance. I will keep an ear to the ground and let you know if/when I hear any of these pharmacies are ready to vaccinate. If you hear before I do, let me know and I will share it here.

Sorry for news ‘glitch’

https://covid-19.ontario.ca/vaccine-locations

LOCAL Update:
The provincial government has announced three pharmacies in Lambton will start offering the AstraZeneca vaccine (to people over age 55). Vaccinations are expected to begin by early next week.

They are:
Loblaw Pharmacy (at Superstore in Sarnia)
Bright’s Grove Family Pharmacy
Forest Pharmacy