COVID-19 vaccine reaches Durham Posted on December 23, 2020 by oshawaexpress in COVID-19, HEALTH, NEWS Debra Carlyon, a personal support worker at Sunnycrest Nursing Home in Whitby, was the first person in Durham to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. (Photo courtesy Lakeridge Health) By Courtney Bachar/The Oshawa Express/LJI Reporter The COVID-19 vaccine has made its way to Durham Region. Lakeridge Health is one of 19 Ontario hospitals to receive the COVID-19 vaccines as part of Phase One of the province’s three-phase vaccine implementation plan. “This is a milestone event for our Durham Region community,” says Interim President and Lakeridge Health CEO Susan deRyk, who notes the last 10 months have meant “unprecedented challenges for so many, including team members at Lakeridge Health and people who provide care for residents of long-term care homes.”