Lambton County is using the hockey hub COVID-19 vaccination plan that was first launched Grey Bruce .
Bruce Power provided logistical support and expertise to set up a ‘Hockey Hub’ at the Point Edward Memorial Arena in Lambton County.
Bruce Power was also a big part of the three hockey hub vaccination centres in Grey Bruce, located in Kincardine, Hanover and Owen Sound.
Supervisor of Health Promotion at Lambton Public Health, Anita Trusler, says its incredible to see public and private entities come together as health units quickly prepare for mass vaccination clinics.
'“Bruce Power remains committed to working with public health officials and all levels of government to assist in the historic vaccination effort that will put an end to the pandemic,” said James Scongack, Bruce Power’s Executive Vice President, Corporate Affairs & Operational Services.
Scongack is a member of the Grey Bruce COVID-19 Task Force and co-chair of the Ontario Vaccination Support Council, which was recently launched by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce. Scongack is proud of the collective efforts shown by all levels of government, private organizations, and public health officials in the face of the pandemic.
“The Hockey Hub vaccination model is just one example of the public and private sector working together to ensure the health and safety of Ontarians throughout the pandemic, and Bruce Power is proud to play a small part,” said Scongack.
The Hockey Hub vaccination plan also attracted attention in Manitoba. Premier Brian Pallister says they are launching a pilot project using the system at the Morden super site.
“I want to commend our Vaccine Implementation Task Force for its continued efforts to build a flexible vaccine roll-out plan that is focused on providing life-saving vaccines to as many Manitobans as quickly and safely as possible,” said Pallister. “The pilot will test a new model that aims to provide better patient care, which is especially important for vulnerable Manitobans accessing these sites, as it can be a difficult and overwhelming process.”
The old system had the immunizer responsible for several steps of the process, limiting the number to about 8 vaccinations an hour.
In the new process, other staff will take on some of the jobs, leaving the immunizer to concentrate on getting shots into arms.
The model also significantly improves client experience as they stay in one place, with clinic staff coming to them. This is especially beneficial for people with mobility or other accessibility needs. The total time each person spends in the clinic is also expected to decrease, on average to 25 minutes from 45 minutes. This includes a required 15-minute, post-immunization recovery period.
