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COVID-19 Vaccine Bulletin - February 4, 2021

Volume 2 – Issued February 4, 2021

COVID-19 Vaccine Bulletin

COVID-19 vaccination is currently a trending topic in everyday discussions, the news and social media. Continue to check in regularly for updates on vaccine highlights, facts and information on the implementation of the Porcupine Health Unit’s COVID-19 Vaccination Program. 

Vaccine distribution continues to be guided by the Ethical Framework for COVID-19 vaccine distribution principles outline by the Ontario COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Task Force as well as vaccine availability.

Planning

The Porcupine Health Unit is working collaboratively with First Nations communities, community partners and local facilities in a continued focused effort to ensure the COVID-19 vaccine roll out will be a success across the district.

The Porcupine Health Unit

  • Vaccination clinics were held in Wahgoshig First Nation, Mattagami First Nation, and Taykwa Tagamou First Nation, the week of February 1, 2021.
  • To date, the Porcupine Health Unit partnered with long-term care homes, high risk retirement homes and elder care to support vaccination clinics for residents of:
    • North Centennial Manor (Kapuskasing)
    • Residence Lefebvre (Moonbeam)
    • Rosedale (Matheson)
    • Foyer des Pionniers (Hearst)
    • Smooth Rock Falls Hospital
    • Villa Minto (Cochrane)
    • South Centennial Manor (Iroquois Falls)
    • Hornepayne Hospital
    • Spruce Hill Lodge (South Porcupine)
    • Extendicare Long-Term Care Home (Kapuskasing)
    • Golden Manor Home (Timmins)
    • Extendicare Long-Term Care Home (Timmins)
  • Local COVID-19 Vaccine Implementation Committees and the COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory Task Force are being finalized. 

Vaccine Rollout

In addition to the previous announcement regarding shipment delays of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines, the province of Ontario was advised by the federal government that there would also be a delay in receiving the Moderna COVID-19 vaccines.

The government of Ontario continues to focus on accelerated vaccination of the province’s most vulnerable people. Although, as a result of the delays in vaccine shipments, the Ontario government has updated the goal of the plan to accelerate vaccination that was announced on January 25, 2021. The completion of the first doses of COVID-19 vaccines for long-term care, high-risk retirement, and First Nations elder care home residents is now set for February 10, 2021 instead of February 5, 2021. Additionally, vaccinations continue to be offered to residents in remote and isolated First Nations and Indigenous communities through Operation Remote Immunity.

As supplies of COVID-19 vaccines are received, vaccination of groups listed in Phase 1 of the province’s COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Plan will continue.

As two doses of mRNA vaccines are required for protection, and it is required that the same COVID-19 mRNA vaccine be received for both doses of the vaccination series, the provincial government is ensuring that enough vaccine is available to immunize those who have already received a first COVID-19 vaccine with a second dose.

The Ontario government previously announced details related to Phase 2 of vaccine rollout which is planned to start as early as March 2021 and be completed by end of July 2021. This timeline is anticipated to be achievable on condition that vaccine supplies continue to be received as planned moving forward. The Ontario government is preparing to vaccinate up to 8.5 million people before the end of Phase 2. During the second phase of vaccine rollout, vaccination of groups included in Phase 1 will continue as needed.

Groups of individuals in Phase 2 include:

  • Older adults, beginning with those 80 years of age and older and decreasing in five-year increments over the course of the vaccine rollout;
  • Individuals living and working in high-risk congregate settings (e.g. shelters, community living);
  • Frontline essential workers (e.g., first responders, education workers, food processing industry); 
  • Individuals with high-risk chronic conditions and their caregivers; and
  • Other populations and communities facing barriers related to the social and economic factors which influence the overall health of individuals and groups across Ontario and have also been linked to greater COVID-19 risk.

Special Populations

While clinical trials did not include individuals from the following list, the benefits of vaccination may outweigh the risks:

 

  • Pregnant and/or breastfeeding women
  • Individuals who are immunocompromised due to disease or treatment

 

If you fit into any of these categories:

 

  • Speak with your health care provider to receive informed counselling about COVID-19 vaccination. The counselling session should include a review of the risks and benefits of the vaccine, a review of the potential risks/consequences of a COVID-19 infection, a review of the risk of acquiring a COVID infection and an acknowledgment of the insufficiency of evidence for the use of current COVID-19 vaccines in these special populations.
  • When you go for your vaccination appointment, you will have to verbally confirm that you have received proper counselling from your health care provider, prior to vaccination. 

 

On, February 2, 2021, the Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, announced additional investments to support made-in-Canada vaccines and treatments to help with current and future pandemic protections for Canadians. One of these investments includes vaccine production of Norovax COVID-19 vaccine in Montréal once approval from Health Canada is received. The Norovax vaccine, along with several other vaccines, is currently under review by Health Canada.

Guidance Documents

The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care have developed and released guidance documents for COVID-19 vaccination. Of note:

Vaccines and COVID-19 Variants

Appearance of new COVID-19 virus variants have been identified throughout the province. The two COVID-19 vaccines currently approved in Canada, Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, are likely to remain effective against the new fast-spreading variants of the virus but more research is needed.

Scientists are working to learn more about these variants including how effective currently authorized vaccines will protect people against them. In the meantime, it remains essential that everyone continue following public health measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

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

Thank you for your continued great efforts in helping to keep our communities safe and reduce the spread of COVID-19.

 

Dr. Lianne Catton, Medical Officer of Health

Additional Information: