The North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit is offering ‘walk-in’ Fridays for people unable to find a pharmacy offering flu shots and COVID-19 vaccines.
The limited time campaign comes in response to public feedback along with an upward trend in local COVID-19 outbreaks.
The Health Unit says between Nov. 1 and Nov. 16, the region had seven confirmed outbreaks in high-risk settings, with six of them being COVID-19 related.
Officials say that represents 30 per cent of total respiratory outbreaks since Sept. 1, 2024.
“The outbreak trends we are seeing in high-risk settings indicate there is a concerning level of COVID-19 spreading in our communities,” says Dr. Carol Zimbalatti, medical officer of health. “Although the pandemic has come and gone, it continues to be important for people to stay home when they have symptoms or wear a mask if they must go out; to wash their hands often, use their arm to cover coughs and sneezes, sanitize hightouch surfaces and stay up-to-date with their vaccinations.”
Walk-in Fridays will be held at the Health Unit’s North Bay location (345 Oak St. W) on Dec. 6, Dec. 13 and Dec. 20 (8:30 am to 4 pm).
“We saw excellent uptake at our 12 community clinics this fall, and we are grateful to have the ongoing support of a number of primary care providers and pharmacies who are immunizing to prevent severe illness in our communities,” says Marlene Campsall, manager of the Health Unit’s Vaccine Preventable Diseases program. “We encourage anyone who has not yet been able to get their vaccines to do so before the new year.”
The Health Unit says getting vaccinated is one of the most effective actions people can take to protect themselves and others from becoming sick.
