Renfrew County & District Health Unit has provided the following media release:
“RCDHU has been advised that we can expect to receive Pfizer and/or Moderna vaccines in early February, but there has been no confirmation of the number of doses,” states Dr. Robert Cushman, Acting Medical Officer of Health, RCDHU. Although the COVID-19 vaccine is not currently available in Renfrew County and District (RCD), Renfrew County and District Health Unit (RCDHU) is leading the development and implementation of the local COVID-19 Vaccine Roll Out Plan. RCDHU has been contacting community partners including long-term care/retirement homes, hospitals, primary care, paramedics, and Renfrew County Virtual Triage Assessment Centre (VTAC), to involve them in the local planning and implementation of the COVID-19 vaccine roll out.
RCDHU’s COVID-19 Vaccine Roll-Out Plan will follow the provincial government’s three-phase implementation plan, which is currently in Phase One. The province announced that Ontario will roll out the vaccines in three phases, focusing first on vulnerable populations that are at greatest risk of COVID-19. The key populations that will be first to receive the COVID-19 vaccine are as follows:
- Residents, employees and staff, and essential caregivers of congregate living settings that provide care for seniors;
- Health care workers (including all those who work in health care settings and those in direct contact with patients);
- Adults in First Nations, Métis, and Inuit populations where infection can have disproportionate consequences, including those living in remote or isolated areas;
- Adult recipients of chronic home health care.
Phase 2 is expected to begin in late winter, and will include:
- All members of the groups in phase 1;
- Additional congregate care settings (for example, shelters);
- Adults over 70 in expanded regions.
Phase 3 dates are unknown but will begin once priority groups from phases 1 and 2 have received vaccinations, and vaccines are available for the general public to be immunized.
In the meantime, we must remind people that the standard COVID-19 precautions go a long way and are the best way to prevent the spread of the virus. We must all continue to work hard to do our part to reduce the spread of the flu and COVID-19; get the flu shot, stay home if sick, avoid contact with people who are ill, practice physical distancing (2 metres), wear a mask/face covering when physical distancing cannot be maintained, wash our hands, and use the COVID Alert App. For more information on the COVID-19 vaccine, visit RCDHU’s website at https://www.rcdhu.com/novel-coronavirus-covid-19-2/ or call 613-732-3629 or 1-800-267-1097.
RCDHU(2021,Jan.12) RCDHU Update – COVID-19 Vaccine Roll Out [media release]
photo: daniel schludi on unsplash
