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COVID-19 Vaccine Bulletin - January 31, 2021

Volume 1 – Issued January 31, 2021

COVID-19 Vaccine Bulletin

The recent approval of vaccines against COVID-19 in Canada and across the world provides hope. Safe and effective vaccines is a top priority as this measure will help fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Ontario COVID-19 vaccination program is unfolding quickly, and the Porcupine Health Unit will be issuing bulletins periodically to keep residents in the area up to date with new information as it becomes available.

This mass immunization program is a huge undertaking, and we remain committed to ongoing efforts to ensure that the program remains safe and accessible in order to protect residents in the Porcupine Health Unit area.

Planning

Health Canada has approved the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 mRNA vaccines and the Porcupine Health Unit is prepared to use both of these vaccines in our communities. 

The Porcupine Health Unit is well positioned for the rollout of COVID-19 immunizations across the district as additional vaccines become available.

The Porcupine Health Unit is responsible for leading the COVID-19 vaccination program across the district and we are working closely with our partners so that as vaccines arrive, immunizations can begin right away for eligible individuals according to Ontario’s Vaccine Distribution Implementation Plan.

To date:

  • The Porcupine Health Unit is leading the collaborative, comprehensive COVID-19 vaccine program across the district.
  • The health unit is continuing to work with long-term care homes and retirement homes to plan for COVID-19 vaccination, and is engaging with First Nation communities to support the co-development of vaccination programs.
  • The health unit is connecting with community partners and leaders to establish a Regional COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory Task Force and COVID-19 Vaccine Implementation Committees with community partners.
  • Community partners and advisory groups are assisting the health unit in identifying high risk groups in an ethical and equitable manner, in line with the Ethical Framework for COVID-19 vaccine distribution principles outlined by the Ontario COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Task Force.
  • The Porcupine Health Unit is finalizing a COVID-19 Vaccine Playbook which will provide a framework for implementation plans regarding vaccine storage, delivery, distribution and administration of the COVID-19 vaccine across the district.
  • Moderna COVID-19 vaccines have been distributed to remote First Nations Communities.  They have begun vaccinating their most vulnerable populations (long-term care staff and residents). ORNGE, Weeneebayko Health Authority (WAHA), the Porcupine Health Unit, Nishnawbe Aski Nation, Indigenous Services Canada and local First Nation communities are working in partnership to plan for the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines.   
  • The Porcupine Health Unit has received the first shipment of COVID-19 vaccine and is following provincial guidance regarding distribution to the most vulnerable populations including long-term care homes, high-risk retirement homes and First Nations elder care homes residents. We are well positioned to meet the provincial goal of having all residents vaccinated by February 5, 2021.
  • The health unit has collaboratively scheduled immunization clinics for residents in the above-mentioned settings beginning the week of January 24, 2021.

Vaccine Rollout

Planning and implementation of the COVID-19 vaccine program will include timely distribution of vaccines to make sure everyone who does not have contraindications, and wants the vaccine, is able to be immunized as doses become available.

The vaccine rollout will be staggered over several months as vaccine supplies become available. The type of vaccine received will be determined by the government and will be based on factors such as availability, storage requirements, and timing of delivery.

Differences in health and social circumstances increase risk of infection as well as poor COVID-19 outcomes, such as hospitalization and death. This means that some individuals, groups, and communities are unequally affected and at higher risk to COVID-19 that others.

The Ontario government announced the key populations that will be immunized first as recommended by the provincial COVID-19 Distribution Task Force and the National Advisory Committee on Immunizations. The chosen vaccine distribution plan is needed as initial vaccines supplies are limited. The plan aims to ensure that population groups at greatest risk to COVID-19 will be immunized first to minimize serious illness and deaths as well as minimize community disruption during the pandemic.

Phase 1 of Ontario’s Vaccine Distribution Implementation Plan began in December 2020 and is expected to continue until March 2021. The initial stages of this phase included two vaccine readiness pilot sites, followed by selected hospitals in Grey-Lockdown and Red-Control Zones. The province is now expanding to more locations beyond the pilot sites. The following groups are included in the first phase of vaccine distribution across the province:

  • residents, staff, essential caregivers (including family caregivers) and other employees in congregate living settings for seniors
  • health care workers, including hospital employees, staff who work or study in hospitals and health care personnel
  • adults in First Nations, Métis and Inuit populations
  • adult recipients of chronic home health care

On January 25, 2021, the Government of Ontario announced the need to adjust the COVID-19 vaccination plan as a results of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine shipment delays announced by the federal government. Adjustment to the vaccination plan are as follows:

  • Accelerate immunization of residents in long-term care, high-risk retirement, and First Nations elder care homes by February 5, 2021.
  • The interval between vaccine doses will be maintained at 21-27 days for long-term care, retirement and First Nations elder care home residents.
  • The interval between vaccine doses will be extended up to 42 days for all other groups.

A plan to accelerate vaccination for the most vulnerable has been developed by the provincial government.  This plan aims to: reduce the risk of severe illness and death for the most vulnerable populations across the province; ensure individuals receive the second dose of vaccine; and continue to vaccinate residents in remote and isolated First Nations and Indigenous communities through Operation Remote Immunity.

Administration of the COVID-19 vaccine will continue as supplies are received by the federal government. The province is building capacity to increase vaccine administration potential in preparation for vaccines arrival.

Resources

The Porcupine Health Unit wants to keep you informed about COVID-19 vaccines. Our website now includes a COVID-19 Vaccine page with more information on approved vaccines, vaccine safety and other general information.

Our COVID-19 phone lines remain open. Call us with any COVID-19 related questions you have at 1-800-461-1818.

Moving Forward

COVID-19 has been a part of our lives for nearly a year and the hardships it has caused for many individuals, workplaces and communities has not gone unnoticed. Thank you for your patience and continued diligence in helping to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

With the initiation of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, hope for a brighter future is on the horizon. In the meantime, please continue with public health measures, stay home, and stay safe.

 

Thank you and stay safe,

Dr. Lianne Catton, Medical Officer of Health

Additional Information: