Volume 8 – Issued March 18, 2021
Information pertaining to COVID-19 vaccines changes rapidly. As new evidence emerges, additional COVID-19 vaccines are approved for use in Canada, projected vaccine supply changes, and updates become available, new recommendations and guidance will be provided and announced by the provincial and federal governments. The Porcupine Health Unit’s COVID-19 Vaccine Bulletins provide highlights of announcements and updates and will be released weekly.
PHU Phase 1 Vaccine Plan
|
Mar 15-21 |
Mar 22-28 |
Mar 29 - Apr 11 |
1st doses for highest priority health care workers
|
X |
X |
X |
1st doses for Indigenous adults in northern remote and higher risk communities (adults, 55+) |
X |
X |
|
1st doses for adults 80 years of age and older
|
X |
X |
X |
1st doses for very high and high priority health care workers |
|
X |
X |
1st doses for moderate priority health care workers |
|
X |
X |
1st doses for Indigenous adults 18 years of age and older in urban and remote or isolated First Nation communities |
|
X |
X |
Ontario’s provincial online COVID-19 vaccine booking system and customer service desk launched on Monday March 15, 2021. However, all COVID-19 vaccine appointments for community clinics held throughout the Porcupine Health Unit district continue to be booked though the Porcupine Health Unit’s website or by calling 1-800- 461-1818. The health unit will transition to the province’s online booking system in the coming weeks.
On March 11, 2021, the Government of Ontario announced that close to 700,000 people have received one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, and almost 300,000 people have received two doses of COVID-19 vaccine. Premier Doug Ford indicated that the overall goal is to immunize up to 9 million Ontarians between April 2021 and July 2021 during Phase Two of Ontario’s COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Plan. As always, this goal is dependant upon the vaccine supply received from the federal government.
Health Canada has issued an advisory and is closely monitoring the reports of blood clots post-vaccination with the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine in Europe. As a precautionary measure, some European countries have paused the use of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine (specific batches or altogether) while the European Medicines Agency’s safety committee completes an investigation into reported cases of blood clots post-vaccination. The United Kingdom’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has confirmed that following the administration of 11 million doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine in its jurisdiction, reports of blood clots are no greater than expected. Health Canada is reassuring Canadians that the benefits of the vaccine continue to outweigh its risk:
Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, announced that Canada will be receiving a minimum of one million doses of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine every week from March 22, 2021 to May 10, 2021. Additional details re: vaccine procurement is available online: Vaccines and treatments for COVID-19: Vaccine rollout - Canada.ca.
The National Advisory Committee on Immunizations (NACI) has updated the recommendations on the use of AstraZeneca vaccine for individuals 65 years of age and older after review of additional evidence from the use of the vaccine in this population group in other countries. The real-world evidence from the United Kingdom demonstrates that the effectiveness of one dose of this vaccine in adults 65 years of age an older has shown a reduced risk of symptomatic COVID-19 infection and hospitalization. Also, it appears as though there is a comparable efficacy level in adults of the same age who receive one dose of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine and is also similar to the efficacy in the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine trials in adults 18 to 64 years of age.
Details regarding Ontario’s vaccine distribution plan in light of this new recommendation is pending.
On March 11, 2021, the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care released an updated COVID-19 Vaccination Recommendations for Specific Populations guidance document which provides additional advice and information:
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.
As COVID-19 vaccine distribution unfolds there is an ever-increasing sense of hopefulness for everyone. The COVID-19 vaccines approved for use in Canada are safe and effective, and vaccination against COVID-19 will prevent countless infection and deaths. Until you are eligible for the vaccine, please continue being patient and practice all public health measures.
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.