Province identifies groups who will have early access to COVID-19 vaccine

Provincial immunization program to roll out in three phases

Short on time? Here’s what you need to know:
-Those living or working in long-term care homes, healthcare workers, high-risk Indigenous communities, and those receiving chronic healthcare will be among the first to have access to early COVID vaccines.
-The province’s immunization program will come in three phases: high-risk groups, then the general public, then a “steady state” phase operating like annual flu shots

-The federal government announced Monday up to 249,000 doses could be available as of next week

There are some among us who will get the COVID-19 vaccine, once available, before others will have access to it.

The Ontario Government has identified key populations to receive the vaccine first. As recommended by the COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Task Force, groups who will receive the early vaccine in the first months of immunization will include residents, staff, essential caregivers, and other employees of congregate living settings like long-term care homes. Healthcare workers, including those working or studying in hospitals, would also receive early access to the shot, as will adult recipients of chronic home health care. Adults in Indigenous communities, including remote communities where the risk of transmission is high, will be able to receive immunization in the early stages.

RELATED: NEARLY 250,000 FIRST DOSES OF PFIZER COVID-19 VACCINE IN CANADA BEFORE END OF DECEMBER

The province’s immunization program will be rolled out in three phases, according to the task force’s Chair, General Rick Hillier (ret). Some 2.4 million doses of the vaccine will be rolled out to high-priority groups in the first phase and is expected to take about three months. Hillier says phase two could last quite longer. “Phase Two, somewhere about the first of April onwards, in my view is going to take six to nine months, perhaps a little bit longer. And that’s when the bulk of the vaccines will start to arrive,” said Hillier on Monday. “We can start ensuring everybody across Ontario, who is eligible and who wants a vaccine, can get it.” He went on to say phase three would look similar to the province’s flu immunization program, with doses being distributed through pharmacies and clinics.

Premier Doug Ford says the vaccine will be completely voluntary, adding he doesn’t believe in forcing people to take the shot. “What I do believe in is encouraging every everyone possible out there to get a vaccination shot. It’s going to protect all of us, but it’s also going to get the economy moving forward. It’s going to protect our health care system, it’s going to protect our education system. So, I highly, highly recommend that people take the vaccine.”

On Monday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced up to 249,000 doses of a vaccine could arrive in Canada as of next week, pending approval from Health Canada.

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