Health Unit Reports Privacy Breach Involving Client Emails; Immediate Steps Being Taken To Address Situation

The local Health Unit is working to immediately address a privacy breach involving a mass email sent to approximately 500 clients in its region.

The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit says the breach involves an email sent to local residents relating to COVID-19 vaccine appointments. The email was sent to email addresses people had provided when booking initial COVID vaccine appointments. However, people receiving the emails were able to see the email addresses of all other recipients.

The Health Unit is immediately following up with people affected by the email. The incident has also been reported to the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario.

“We take this issue very seriously and sincerely apologize for this incident,” says Dr. Natalie Bocking, Medical Officer of Health for the HKPR District Health Unit. “We are reaching out to affected individuals and also working internally to ensure there is no repeat of this situation.”

The Health Unit asks anyone who received these emails to delete them immediately. The Health Unit also strongly urges recipients of the email not to forward the email to any other person or party, so the breach is not compounded.

If anyone needs to contact the Health Unit, they can do so by emailing info@hkpr.on.ca or calling 1-866-888- 4577, ext. 5020.