Ottawa Public Health releases vaccine priorities after Pfizer doses are delayed – Ottawa Citizen

Ottawa Public Health releases vaccine priorities after Pfizer doses are delayed – Ottawa Citizen

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Several teams were deployed to each location, based on the number of residents, staff and essential caregivers. The remaining long-term care homes’ staff were able to vaccinate their residents, workers and essential caregivers with onsite nurses, said the memo.

The Ottawa Hospital and CHEO also provided pharmacy staff so the vaccine could be diluted on site.

The memo notes that there is a limited supply of vaccine and Ottawa Public Health followed the provincial ethical framework to prioritize the vaccine roll-out according to the risk of exposure, the risk of severe disease or outcomes and the health system’s ability to ensure ongoing care to people.

One high-risk retirement home and one congregate care home with older adults have also had the opportunity to receive their first doses, given the availability of vaccine supply. Both homes were experiencing exceptional health concerns.

The timeline of delivering second doses depends on the vaccine supply, said the memo.

As supply allows, the focus will shift to higher-risk retirement homes, select congregate care settings for older adults and high-risk healthcare workers. Other Phase 1 populations to be immunized include adult members of First Nations, Inuit and Metis communities and adults with chronic home care.

Ottawa Public Health has established a local “vaccine sequence strategy task force” which includes representatives of groups highly affected by COVID-19 including newcomers, Indigenous, racialized people, older adults, and healthcare workers, said the memo. The task force will advise on how to implement the sequence of vaccines given local context and using the province’s framework.

Ottawa Public Health and the city’s emergency services are “collaborating to do all that we can to ensure Ottawa residents who want to receive the COVID-19 vaccine will be able to access it as quickly and efficiently as possible.”

The total amount of vaccine and delivery dates to Ottawa are not yet known, so it’s still important to limit close contacts to those within your household, practice physical distancing, wear a mask, wash your hands, and stay home except for essential reasons, cautioned the memo.

“It is important to note that it will be several months until a vaccine is available to the general public.”

Published at Mon, 18 Jan 2021 23:21:19 +0000