As 50,000 doses of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine arrive in Ontario, preparations are underway in Hastings Prince Edward, to get those vaccines to the people.
Medical Officer of Health Dr. Piotr Oglaza tells Quinte News they’re still not sure exactly when those doses will arrive here, but there is a firm timeline on when one critical piece of equipment will be delivered.
“We’ll be getting a special vaccine freezer for the Moderna vaccine, sometime mid-to-late January, which is an essential piece of equipment to store that vaccine. This is the vaccine that has to be stored at minus-20 (Celsius), or so, so it’s a little less demanding than the Pfizer product but still requires that vaccine freezer.”
Dr. Oglaza says the health unit has lots of experience with immunization programs, including with the annual flu vaccines and sees the process moving smoothly once the doses arrive.
“As soon as we get the vaccine we’ll be ready, working with our partners, to make sure we administer doses as quickly as possible to those that need to receive them. There’s also considerations for more of a mass immunization clinic that is safe and respectful to infection control measures, but again, it’s something that could be delivered in a similar fashion to the regular influenza vaccine.”
He added that those doses could be given out in a number of ways including at pharmacies, doctors’ offices and the health unit, or in a mass immunization setting that follows all of the public health protocols.
Regardless of how those doses are issued, Dr. Oglaza says their plan will follow the province’s phased-in approach.
“Phase one, that’s the vaccine that’s in hospital and people will be brought to that vaccine. That’s mostly healthcare workers and those who provide care in long term care settings. The second phase, the first priority groups are the residents of long term care homes. And then phase three is when the vaccine inventory is higher, then any Ontarian who wishes to receive that vaccine will be able to get it.”
He added that because of that phased approach, how fast those doses can be delivered to people also depends heavily on how many we get here in the first shipment, when it does come.
