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COVID-19 Vaccine Bulletin - March 10, 2021

Volume 7 – Issued March 10, 2021

COVID-19 Vaccine Bulletin

Recent announcements from Health Canada, as well as federal and provincial governments about COVID-19 vaccines are reason to be hopeful. New developments in vaccine rollout plans will allow more people to receive the vaccine sooner than previously anticipated. This means that more people will be protected as COVID-19 will save lives and help prevent the spread and risk of severe infection.

Planning

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. 

The Porcupine Health Unit

  • The Moderna mRNA COVID-19 vaccine is the vaccine that has been used in the health unit district so far.
  • First dose COVID-19 immunizations for staff and essential caregivers of high- risk retirement homes have been completed.
  • Administration of both doses of COVID-19 vaccines to long-term care home, high risk retirement home and Elder Care, residents have been completed.
  • COVID-19 vaccination has begun in the district for:
    • Individuals receiving chronic home care as well as those living in congregate care settings.
    • Highest risk healthcare workers
    • Adults 80 years and older
    • Indigenous adults 55 years and older
  • COVID-19 community immunization clinic appointments for older adults 80 years of age and older are available across the region starting on Friday, March 12, 2021 and continuing until Sunday, March 21, 2021.
  • COVID-19 community immunization clinic appointments for Indigenous adults 55 years and older will be available the week of March 15 and March 22 across the PHU area in collaboration with Indigenous leaders and Indigenous-led organizations.
  • These are just the start of the clinics. More clinics for these adults will be offered in the coming weeks.
  • Phase One populations will continue to be the focus for COVID-19 immunizations throughout the month of March. The Porcupine Health Unit COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics schedule can be found under the COVID-19 Vaccine page of the health unit’s website.
  • Although the province is launching the Ontario online booking system on Monday, March 15, 2021, all COVID-19 vaccine appointments for PHU residents will be scheduled through the Porcupine Health Unit’s website or by calling 1-800- 461-1818.  The PHU will transition to the province’s online booking system in the coming weeks.
  • The Porcupine Health Unit will announce community immunization clinics and provide more information on COVID-19 vaccine appointment scheduling and eligibility for vaccines closer to when these community clinics become available.
  • Planning is always ongoing in preparation for subsequent population groups that will become eligible for vaccination in coming weeks to ensure a seamless transition throughout each phase of Ontario’s COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Plan.

Vaccine Rollout & Announcements

On March 5, 2021, Health Canada announced authorization of the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine. This is the fourth COVID-19 vaccine to meet the required safety and efficacy standards for approval of use in Canada. Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, announced that Canada will receive 10 million doses of the Janssen vaccine by the end of September 2021. The Janssen COVID-19 vaccine is approved for use in adults 18 years of age and older and this vaccine only requires 1 dose.

The Government of Ontario made key announcements on March 5, 2021, regarding updates to Ontario’s COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Plan. Phase Two of the provincial distribution plan is scheduled to begin in April 2021 as COVID-19 vaccine supplies are stabilizing and over 2 million doses of the vaccine are expected from the Government of Canada by the end of March 2021. As always, Ontario’s COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Plan aims to provide vaccines to the most at risk populations for severe COVID-19 illness and tragic outcomes first. The provincial government anticipates that all adults 60 years of age and older will be able to receive the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine by early June and other Ontarians will be able to receive the first dose by the first day of summer 2021. 

The provincial government also advised that beginning on March 10, 2021, with some exceptions, the province will be following the recommendation made by the National Advisory Committee on Immunization’s (NACI) to extend the interval between first and second doses of all COVID-19 vaccines up to 4 months. This recommendation from NACI, as well as the increase in COVID-19 vaccine doses that will be received from the federal government, has allowed the province of Ontario to expand the number of individuals who will receive the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine in a shorter amount of time.

These populations groups will still receive the second dose of COVID-19 vaccine between 21 to 42 days:

  • Long-term care homes, retirement homes, Elder Care Lodges and Assisted Living residents who are at the greatest risk of both exposure to COVID-19 and serious illness and death.
  • Remote and isolated First Nation communities given the potential seriousness of COVID-19 infection in these communities with limited available health care facilities and resources.

The province of Ontario is working to offer COVID-19 vaccines in additional setting such as primary care offices and pharmacies. A pilot program is currently underway in select areas in the province to ensure that these settings are ready for COVID-19 vaccination during Phase Two of Ontario’s COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Plan.

Phase Two of Ontario’s COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Plan will focus on populations based on age and risk, with the highest risk people being immunized first in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 as well as hospitalization and deaths. On March 5, 2021, the Government of Ontario released a backgrounder including information on Populations Eligible for Phase Two COVID-19 Vaccination. Between April and July 2021, the following eligible population groups are expected to be vaccinated:

  • Older adults, between 60-79 years of age
  • Individuals with specific health conditions and some primary caregivers
  • People who live and work in congregate settings and some primary caregivers
  • People who live in hot spots with high rates of death, hospitalizations, and transmission
  • Certain workers who cannot work from home.

The provincial government will not be requiring proof of health conditions to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in Phase Two of the vaccine rollout. It is believed that Ontarians are patient and will only attend the COVID-19 clinics when it is their turn as individuals want to ensure that those most at risk will be given the vaccine first.

Beginning March 5, 2021, sociodemographic data will be collected on a voluntary basis from individuals who receive the COVID-19 vaccine across Ontario. This data collection ensures ongoing commitment to an equitable vaccine rollout and will provide the province with additional information on who is receiving the vaccine and will help ensure access to those who are at risk and have been most impacted by the pandemic.

The Early Impact of Ontario’s COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout on Long-Term Care Home Residents and Health Care Workers Report has highlighted positive outcomes regarding COVID-19 vaccines in long-term care homes across the province. COVID-19 immunization has greatly reduced COVID-19 infection, hospitalizations and deaths among residents and healthcare workers in these settings. COVID-19 immunization in long-term care homes prevented an estimated:

  • 2,079 COVID-19 infections in residents + 330 COVID-19 infections in healthcare workers
  • 249 COVID-19 hospitalizations in residents + 8 COVID-19 hospitalizations in healthcare workers
  • 615 COVID-19 deaths in residents and 1 COVID-19 death in healthcare workers

The Ontario government announced the Completion of All First Dose COVID-19 Vaccination in Northern Remote Indigenous Communities. COVID-19 immunization in remote and isolated Indigenous communities was a central component of the Ontario’s COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan. A total of 31 fly-in communities and Moosonee were involved in Operation Remote Immunity. These communities were selected as most are only accessible by air travel and individuals living in these communities are at a disproportionate risk to COVID-19 and have fewer healthcare facilities and resources to respond to COVID-19. Administration of the second dose of COVID-19 vaccines through Operation Remote Immunity is scheduled to be completed by the end of April 2021.

Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine Safety & Effectiveness

  • As with all vaccines approved for use in Canada, the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine was extensively evaluated by Health Canada and this vaccine was approved for use as the benefits outweigh the potential risk. All safety standards have been met for approval of the vaccine.
  • The Janssen COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective. Side effects are mild, do not cause health risks, and are similar to other routine vaccines. In clinical trials, the most commonly reported side effects included things like pain at the site of injection, body chills, feeling tired and feeling feverish.
  • In clinical trials, the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine was found to be 66% effective at preventing symptomatic COVID-19 infection 28 days after receiving the vaccine. Only one dose is needed.
  • This vaccine is approved for use in adults 18 years of age and older.
  • The Janssen COVID-19 vaccine cannot make you sick or put you at risk of complications of the actual COVID-19 illness.
  • By getting vaccinated you are protecting yourself and your community. Some people may not be able to get the COVID-19 vaccine due to a contraindication. When the majority of the population gets vaccinated it helps to protect those who can’t.
  • As with all medications and vaccines, Health Canada continuously monitors safety of COVID-19 vaccines closely.

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

It will take several months for the entire population to be able to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Public health measures remain the most effective way to preventing the spread of COVID-19, including the COVID-19 variants of concern. Please stay safe and help protect others by continuing to practice all public health measures even if you have received the COVID-19 vaccine.

The Porcupine Health Unit continues to recruit COVID-19 Response Assistants and Immunizers to support COVID-19 vaccination across the district. Visit Employment (porcupinehu.on.ca) to learn about opportunities to become involved in the COVID-19 vaccine rollout or call 1-800-461-1818.

Additional Information: