Some Indigenous communities in northern Ontario will be part of the first phase in the rollout of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.
A pilot project will be done in communities along the James Bay coast where long-term care homes exist.
Retired General Rick Hillier says they’ll use it as a jumping off point to others in the north.
“We do have, I think it’s 31 communities that you can fly into only, and then look at how we roll across the northern part of Ontario with the continuation of that program and ensure that we get to as many people as possible.”
The province is expecting the first shipment of 50,000 doses on Wednesday.
Gen. Hillier says immunizations are slated to start at long-term care and retirement homes within days of the delivery
As for the long-term immunization plan, he states “We’re assuming that we will get them at 5 million doses of vaccine per month for April, May and June. And therefore as a result of that we want to be ready to put needles into the arms of about 150,000 people across Ontario per day.”
Hillier says based on availability, they expect to vaccinate as many 8.5 million Ontarians by the summer.
The rollout comes on the heels of news that nearly 4,500 new infections were logged in Ontario over two days (1,939 on Monday and 2,553 on Tuesday).
At least 78 deaths related to the coronavirus were recorded in the last 48-hours, which pushes the provincial death toll to 4,455.
Here is the Vaccine Rollout
Phase 1
-Vaccines are available to health care workers and essential caregivers who work in hospitals, long-term care homes, retirement homes, and other congregate settings caring for seniors
-Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre will test the travel logistics in Northern Ontario and support the administration of the vaccine to Indigenous and remote communities
-These vaccination clinics are not open to the public
Phase 2
-Expected to begin later this winter
-Vaccinations will be expanded to all members of the groups in phase 1, additional congregate care settings and adults over 70 in expanded regions
Phase 3
-Vaccines will not be mandatory, but you are strongly encouraged to get vaccinated
-Early doses will be available for: Residents, staff, essential caregivers (including family caregivers) and other employees who work in congregate living settings providing care for seniors, health care workers, including hospital employees, other staff who work or study in hospitals and other health care personnel, adults in First Nations, Métis and Inuit populations, including those living in remote or isolated areas where risk of transmission is high
-The province will prioritize regions with the highest rates of COVID-19 infection
Overseas another COVID-19 vaccine has been approved for use in the UK.
The first doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca shot will be given next Monday as the number of cases continue to rise in that country.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson says this is truly fantastic news and a triumph for British Science..
Reports say the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is easier to store because it does not require freezing temperatures.
