Region of Waterloo completes first-round vaccination of long-term care and retirement home residents

An exciting milestone in the Region’s ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic was met Monday, as the Region of Waterloo announced it had completed first-round vaccination of all eligible retirement home and long-term care residents. In a release sent to 570 NEWS, Region of Waterloo Public Health said the achievement was made possible through re-directing “as much of the region’s limited vaccine supply as possible” to inoculate residents as quickly as possible.

The news came shortly after an announcement earlier on Monday from the provincial government, as Premier Doug Ford warned of further reductions in provincial vaccine supply. Ontario is expected to receive no vaccine deliveries for the week of January 25th, with just over 26,000 doses expected in the first weeks of February – far fewer than originally anticipated. As the Ontario government announces it will shift the focus of its vaccine delivery roll-out to long-term care and retirement home residents, the Region said it will continue to focus on administering second doses, as well as doses to patients waiting to receive transfer to hospital or retirement home settings.

The Region said focusing on these patients will improve health system flow, ensuring that those patients receive their first dose before being transferred. After receiving that dose, patients will be able to receive their follow-up dosage alongside other residents at their retirement home setting.

Speaking to Monday’s milestone was Shirley Hilton, Deputy Chief for the Waterloo Region Police Service and lead of the Waterloo Region Vaccine Distribution Task Force.

“I am incredibly proud of the work of our partners in vaccinating residents as quickly as possible,” said Hilton. “With information changing daily we are pivoting as quickly as we can and making the best decisions possible with the information we have at the time.”

That information was somewhat clarified today, as the provincial government also released its new directive regarding the timeline for follow up doses for long-term care and retirement home residents – requiring second doses within 21-27 days. All other groups are expected to follow their first shot in no more than 42 days.

The provincial government has also announced it will be moving up its target to have residents in long-term care, high-risk retirement and First Nations elder care homes vaccinated to February 5th.

“Due to the delays in the next shipment of Pfizer vaccine doses, we are ensuring all available supplies are redirected to those who need them most: our residents in long-term care and retirement homes,” said Premier Ford. “I know this will mean that some people may have to reschedule their vaccine appointments, but it is critical that our most vulnerable seniors receive the protection they need as soon as possible.”

Vaccines continue to be administered to priority groups through the first phase of the province’s three-phased distribution implementation plan. Clinics for the general population will not begin until Phase 3 – anticipated to begin later in 2021. Despite delays and uncertainty with vaccine shipments, Premier Ford said on Monday that it’s his hope everyone who wants a vaccine will be able to receive one by this summer.

Until that time, both the province and our regional public health unit are urging members of the public to continue to follow public health guidelines to help reduce the risk of spreading the virus.