The COVID-19 situation in the area was brought to the attention of the mayors of MRC Pontiac at their meeting Wednesday night (January 19). Warden Jane Toller discussed the ongoing outbreak at the CHSLD Manoir Sacré-Cœur in Mansfield. She said that she had been told that no residents at the long-term care facility had to be hospitalized, which was reassuring.

Toller also said that she had been contacted by media in Montreal to explain the reasons why Pontiac has one of the lowest vaccination rates in Quebec, and discussed possible solutions with the mayors. She and Mayor Doug Rousselle of Rapides-des-Joachims highlighted the success of the recent mobile clinic in the remote community.

Fort-Coulonge Mayor Christine Francœur stated that it was easy to obtain a vaccine at the pharmacy in Mansfield. Shawville Mayor Bill McCleary added that they were available at the pharmacy in Shawville as well.

Sheenboro Mayor Doris Ranger said that she didn’t realize that COVID-19 vaccines were available in pharmacies. She questioned whether that fact had been publicized.

Information on vaccinations in pharmacies has been published in both languages, online and in print, in both advertising and reporting, numerous times since they became available in the spring of 2021, not to mention the information available on social media. The provincial vaccine portal ClicSanté offers vaccination appointments at pharmacies as well.

L’Isle-aux-Allumettes Mayor Corey Spence said that he would like to see mobile vaccination clinics in the upper Pontiac like last spring and Toller said she would raise the subject with the regional health authorities.

The full audio of the discussion from the meeting is available below.