Windsor Regional Hospital and the London Health Science Centre are among 17 hospital sites to receive the next batch of COVID-19 vaccines.
Ontario is expecting up to 90,000 Pfizer-BioNTech doses from the federal government before the end of the year.
"Following a successful pilot, we are excited to continue onto the next stage of our rollout of the COVID-19 vaccines to Ontarians," said Health Minister and Deputy Premier Christine Elliott. "While we are planning to ensure that everyone who wants a vaccine will receive one, we need to first protect our frontline workers and those providing essential care to our most vulnerable."
Vaccinations will continue to be administered to health care workers in high-risk settings first, such as long-term care homes and hospitals. To date, over 2,500 health care workers have received the first dose of the vaccine at Toronto’s UHN and the Ottawa Hospital.
All of the sites receiving the next batch of vaccines have the necessary equipment to store the vaccine and the staff necessary to administer it.
The London Health Sciences Centre says it will work with the Middlesex London Health Unit to administer the vaccines to health care workers in long term care facilities and retirement homes, as well as selected hospital staff as the vaccines arrive in the coming days.
It expected the doses will be administered at the field hospital that was set up at the Western Fair Agri-plex.
“This is an important milestone in our response to the pandemic and LHSC is delighted to play a role in this historic vaccination program. It is a true partnership which will include a strong commitment from other areas of the health system such as primary care physicians and will grow as more vaccines come available and this transforms into a mass vaccination program,” said LHSC Chief Operating Officer Neil Johnson. “As we get the program underway, each partner will draw on the experience and expertise of their teams to deliver a coordinated and effective vaccination program.”
At this time, Windsor Regional Hospital officials cannot confirm how many vaccines they will receive or when they will arrive. The hospital will follow the guidelines set out by the province and focus on health care workers in long-term care and retirement home facilities. Each employee will be independently scheduled for inoculation. Individuals will have to attend the hospital to receive the vaccine as it cannot be transported.
Health Canada approved the first COVID-19 vaccine in Canada, manufactured by Pfizer-BioNTech, last week. It was approved after an independent review for safety and effectiveness.
More to come.
