VACCINE WAITING LIST
For many, it'll be 3 months
The general public in Windsor-essex may have to wait three months to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, the local health unit announced on Monday.
In an effort to address the “many” questions about when the vaccine will be distributed more widely throughout the region, the Windsor-essex County Health Unit in a written statement explained the provincial government's three-phase rollout plan.
“We understand the urgency, at a time when our case counts are very high, we have outbreaks across many sectors and we are in lockdown,” said a news release from the health unit. “We too, want to vaccinate everyone as quickly and safely as possible.
Phase 1 of the provincial plan focuses on the vulnerable populations identified as being at the greatest risk of COVID-19 and severe illness, as well as those who care for them. Those individuals include:
Residents, staff, essential caregivers and other employees in congregate living settings that provide care for seniors health-care workers, including hospital employees; other staff who work or study in hospitals and other health-care personnel; adults in First Nations, Me tis and Inuit populations; and adult recipients of chronic home health care.
The province has provided further guidance on how to prioritize health-care workers during the vaccine rollout, starting from those who will be at the highest risk of acquiring COVID-19 and who will be at risk of developing more severe complications.
“Preparation and planning for future priority groups is occurring at this time,” the health unit said. It's working “with all partners to ensure a smooth rollout of vaccines.”
Phase 2 of the provincial vaccine distribution plan will happen when more doses of the shot become available to Ontario and to Windsor-essex as a region. That phase is expected to begin later this winter, when “vaccinations will likely be expanded to include additional congregate care settings” like shelters.
As the health unit receives more information from the province, it will share the information with the community, the statement said.
“We will be working with all our hospital and community partners to implement a local and robust mass vaccination plan that uses our collective resources efficiently and effectively, while at the same time ensuring that other vulnerable groups not targeted in Phase 1 and 2 of the provincial vaccine rollout plan are not missed.
“This process must be evidence-based, using an ethical framework, and not arbitrary. Throughout the pandemic, we've repeatedly said that we want to have everyone cross the finish line together and that remains our goal.”