What we know about COVID vaccine rollout

‘It is very much a race between the variants and the vaccine,’ says Peel medical officer of health

Vaccination is key to mitigating the third wave of COVID-19 especially as contagious new variants spread.

“It is very much a race between the variants and the vaccine,” Peel’s medical officer of health, Dr. Lawrence Loh, said at a briefing Tuesday by the Ontario Medical Association.

“If we really want to reduce the risks of having the third wave, getting vaccines in arms is so important,” said Dr. Kwadwo Kyeremanteng, critical care physician at the Ottawa Hospital.

Few details are available about the wider vaccine rollout in Hamilton, but public health released a first glimpse at a board of health meeting Feb. 19.

How many people need to

be vaccinated?

The province estimates 75 per cent of Hamilton adults will volunteer for a total of 375,951 needing 751,902 doses. This is not a set number, so all who want to be vaccinated will get it. Currently there are no approved vaccines for kids under age 16.

Who has been vaccinated so far?

Hamilton has administered 31,249 doses as of Feb. 22, but it’s unknown how many people this represents as many are second doses.

The latest breakdown is from Feb. 16, when the total was 25,111 with 9,060 being second doses.

Health-care workers outside of seniors’ homes have received the most at 10,496 doses. There is no breakdown of what jobs they do or where they work.

Residents of long-term care and high-risk retirement homes got 7,225 doses, while staff got 5,887 and essential caregivers got 1,503.

Also being vaccinated are hospital patients waiting for longterm care and residents of St. Peter’s Hospital, which provides complex continuing care primarily to seniors.

Who is next in line?

Remaining retirement home residents, staff and essential caregivers are next, as well as other congregate living for seniors. Also at the front of the line are seniors age 80 and older, Indigenous adults and adult recipients of home care. Health-care workers will continue to be vaccinated according to prioritization set by the province.

However, there are no set timelines on this rollout.

“The bottom line here in Hamilton is we don’t have enough vaccine in order to move forward,” said Dr. Elizabeth Richardson, medical officer of health.

Where will you get vaccinated?

Hamilton has two fixed-site clinics: one in the North End run by Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS) and another one opening March 1 at the West 5th Campus of St. Joseph’s Healthcare.

More fixed-site clinics run by public health are proposed, including one downtown and one in the east end. No exact locations or dates have been revealed yet.

Vaccination at pharmacies is also part of the plan but none have been named.

Will the vaccine come to you?

Hamilton has a mobile clinic that goes mostly to seniors’ homes. Public health has also proposed pop-up clinics set up in community spaces like libraries or recreation centres. There are plans for mobile bus clinics that could be driven to locations. A drive-thru site is being considered so residents don’t have to leave their cars. Lastly, rolling clinics would drop off vaccinators to go door to door for those who can’t leave their homes.

How fast can we vaccinate?

The plan is for Hamilton to administer 10,150 doses a day:

1,200 at HHS North End site;

2,000 at the West 5th Campus;

3,700 at a downtown clinic;

1,500 at east-end clinic; 750 through mobile clinics;

1,000 at pharmacies.

Joanna Frketich is a Hamilton-based reporter covering health for The Spectator. jfrketich@thespec.com