COVID-19 vaccinations are about to ramp up in Kawartha Lakes.

According to a media release from the HKPR District Health Unit, more than 6,000 doses of the vaccines are on their way – more than 4,500 doses of the Pfizer vaccine as well as another 1,700 doses of the Moderna vaccine.

Health officials say the Pfizer vaccine will be used to vaccinate staff of long-term care and retirement homes, essential caregivers in those facilities, and health care workers in area hospitals.

The Moderna vaccine will be used to provide the second dose to those residents of long-term care and high-risk retirement homes who had received their first dose last month.

“We are hearing that the shipment of vaccine expected this week is the beginning of an abundance of available vaccine that will be sent out across the province,” said Dr. Ian Gemmill, Acting Medical Officer of Health for the HKPR District Health Unit.

“We know that people have been anxiously awaiting their turn to be vaccinated, and I want to assure them that their turn is coming. We just all need to be patient as we receive more vaccine.”

Once additional amounts of vaccine are received, clinics will be offered for residents aged 80 years or older – possibly sometime in March.

“Our goal is to ensure that we get the vaccine into as many arms as possible, as quickly as possible,” Dr. Gemmill said.

“As soon as we have the vaccine and the details for clinics, we will share that information with our residents so they can get vaccinated.”