There is still no confirmed date for COVID-19 vaccine delivery in Chatham-Kent.
“Chatham-Kent was in line to receive vaccine at the end of January, but we are unable to confirm a delivery date at this time… due to the latest news on the Pfizer vaccine slow down due to retooling at the Belgium plant and has thrown plans into disarray,” Dr. David Colby, Chatham-Kent’s Medical Officer of Health, said during a virtual press conference this week.
A letter written by Sarnia-Lambton MPP Bob Bailey, which was tweeted out by Sarnia journalist Tara Jeffrey, indicated that Chatham-Kent was set to receive their first batch of vaccines on January 25, 2021.
Full release: pic.twitter.com/o68kChGFrb
— Tara Jeffrey (@TaraJeffrey) January 20, 2021
Baily wrote in the letter, which was dated January 20, 2021, that the information was provided to him by the Office of the Premier of Ontario and the Ministry of Health.
The Sydenham Current has reached out to Premier Doug Ford’s office and the Ministry of Health for confirmation.
However, no response has been received to date.
Chatham Councillor Brock McGregor, a member of the Chatham-Kent Public Health Board, tweeted this week that Chatham-Kent is ready and waiting.
“Still waiting in Chatham-Kent and Sarnia Lambton for vaccine to arrive,” McGregor tweeted.
“We’re ready to get it out the door as soon as it arrives, but have no indication on when it’ll be supplied.”
CK Public Health and Chatham-Kent Health Alliance officials said earlier this week that they are working collaboratively with the Chatham-Kent Ontario Health Team and community partners to coordinate the delivery of the COVID-19 vaccines to priority populations and the general community of Chatham-Kent, once they arrive.
“Our COVID-19 experience has been met with many twists and turns,” CK Public health officials said on their COVID-19 vaccine page.
“As new processes, policies, and procedures are created and added to our collection of recommended public health measures, we work hard to keep the health and safety of our community as the top priority. When more information about COVID-19 vaccines is released, including further details about immunization and immunization clinics, we will update the information contained on this page.”
The COVID-19 vaccine page can be found, here.
On January 15, the province was alerted by the federal government that due to work to expand its European manufacturing facility, production of the Pfizer-BioNtech COVID-19 vaccine will be impacted and Canada’s allocations of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for the remainder of January and early February will be reduced, Provincial officials said on Tuesday.
To respond to this change in supply of the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine, Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health has provided updated direction on the administration of second doses:
– Long-term care and high-risk retirement home residents and their essential caregivers, who have received their first dose of the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine, will receive their second dose in 21 to 27 days.
– Staff who were vaccinated within the homes at the same time as the residents will also follow the same schedule.
– All other recipients of the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine must receive their second dose after 21 days and before 42 days.
– For individuals who received the Moderna vaccine, the dose schedule of 28 days will remain.
Also on Tuesday, Provincial officials said progress continues to be made with the goal of administering vaccines in all long-term care homes across the province by February 15, 2021.
On Thursday, January 21, 2021, Provincial officials said over 253,000 vaccine doses have been administered across the province, including over 73,000 doses administered to long-term care staff and retirement home staff, over 104,000 doses administered to health care workers and over 57,000 doses administered to long-term care and retirement home residents.
