Province identifies key groups to receive vaccine first

Written By ALYSSA PARKHILL

LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE REPORTER

The Province of Ontario reports 1,676 new cases as of December 8, with 10 new deaths. 

As this Region remains in lockdown, Peel reported 349 new cases, a significant decrease from the previous day, which reported 512. 

Peel has a total of 29,088 cases with 24,133 of them being resolved, 4,570 remain active and there have been 385 deaths as of December 8. 

As numbers rise, conversation is continuing to turn to the Pfizer and BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made the official announcement that 249,000 doses of the vaccine will be shipped by the end of this month. 

“We are facing the largest immunization in the history of our country,” he remarked. “Canada has secured an agreement with Pfizer to begin early delivery of doses of their vaccine candidate.”

“Pending Health Canada approval, the first shipment of doses is tracking for delivery next week,” he stated.

The Province of Ontario is preparing for distribution through the COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Task Force, and have identified the first key groups that will receive the vaccine when it becomes available. 

In the first few months of receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, the first groups who will receive the vaccine include residents and all staff members at congregate living settings, health care workers, adults in Indigenous communities and adult recipients of chronic home health care.

“We must deploy these first shipments of a safe and effective vaccine where they will make the most impact and save lives. That means vaccinating our vulnerable seniors and those who care for them as soon as possible,” said Premier Doug Ford. 

Regions with the high rate of COVID-19 transmission will be the first to receive the vaccination. These include regions in the Red-Control and Grey-Lockdown levels. 

Regions currently under the Red-Control level include Durham Region, City of Hamilton, Halton, Region of Waterloo, Windsor-Essex County and York Region. While Toronto and Peel remain in the lockdown zones. 

The vaccine will undergo several trials and tests to determine the vaccine is safe and can be approved by Health Canada, before it can be distributed to the public.

“Ontario is ready to deliver COVID-19 vaccines to Ontarians as soon as they are available, and that starts with vaccinating our most vulnerable and those at greatest risk,” said Minister of Health Christine Elliot. “Our priority continues to be the health and safety of all Ontarians, so we will make sure that no matter where they are receiving the vaccine, they will have a fast and safe immunization experience.” 

The United Kingdom was the first to receive the vaccine where the first doses have been distributed through mass immunization. 

A 90-year-old woman in the U.K was named the first person to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. 

The Province plans to update Ontarians on when and where the vaccine will go, once further information becomes available. 

For further information, please visit Ontario.ca.