VACCINE HAS ARRIVED
First recipients on Tuesday
The first shipment of COVID-19 vaccines has arrived in Windsor.
Windsor Regional Hospital announced on Monday a limited supply of the Pfizer vaccine was delivered that morning to the St. Clair College Sportsplex by UPS under the guard of Windsor police. Even Santa showed up for the special delivery.
The vaccine is now stored in freezers at -80 C, the temperature required for the doses until they are prepared clinically for inoculation, the hospital said in a news release. It did not specify how many doses were included in the shipment.
“This is an exciting time in our community as we receive the initial supply of long-awaited doses to vaccinate against the COVID-19 virus,” said WRH CEO David Musyj.
“We know this is just the start, and that initial vaccinations will be limited. However, like all communities across Canada, we look forward to the opportunities next year to bring vaccinations to individuals across Windsor-essex.”
The fragile Pfizer vaccine is not allowed to be transported from its initial delivery site, so all individuals being inoculated must attend the Sportsplex, which this year was temporarily transformed into a field hospital to handle COVID-19 patients from long-term care homes.
WRH staff were scheduled to go over final training and preparations on Monday in order to administer the first vaccines on Tuesday.
Using the St. Clair College Sportsplex as a vaccine centre does not preclude its potential future use as a field hospital, should the conditions warrant its reopening, the hospital said.
“Given the size and technical specifications of the facility, we would be able to run a segregated vaccination area as well as a field hospital for active patients without impacting either operation,” Musyj said.
The first group to receive the shot will be employees of longterm care and retirement homes that are not currently experiencing a COVID-19 outbreak, in accordance with the Ontario government's vaccine rollout plan. Employees are being independently scheduled for inoculation.
As more vaccines become available, WRH, in co-ordination with the Windsor-essex County Health Unit, will continue to administer the shots in line with the province's priority list, which focuses on four groups: residents, staff, essential caregivers, and other employees of long-term care homes and other congregate livings settings for seniors; health-care workers, including hospital employees, other staff who work or study in hospitals, and other health-care personnel; adults in Indigenous communities, including remote communities; and adult recipients of chronic home health care.
The vaccines are secured with support from Windsor police.
Dr. Wajid Ahmed, medical officer of health with the health unit, said residents need to continue being patient until an “ample supply” of the vaccine arrives and is widely distributed several months from now. In the meanwhile, individuals must continue to follow public health measures, including maintaining a distance of two metres from others, and wearing a mask when physical distancing cannot be maintained and where required. Even those who are immunized should continue to do the same.
“We can see some light at the end of the tunnel, but again, the tunnel is very long,” Ahmed said.
During the health unit's virtual news conference on Monday, Ahmed emphasized the vaccine does not contain the actual virus, but rather the instructions the body needs to create its own antibodies. The antibodies can then immediately attack the virus if and when an immunized individual is exposed to it to prevent infection.
The vaccine requires two doses given a few weeks apart.
Side effects of the Pfizer vaccine “are similar to the side effects of any other vaccine,” and can include pain at the injection site, body chills and feeling tired or feverish, he said. More serious side effects “are very rare.”