A COVID-19 vaccine is making its way to Canada.
Earlier this week, Health Canada approved national use of Pfizer and BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine. The decision clears the way for the delivery of up to 249,000 doses this month, with the first shipment set to arrive in 14 locations across the country next week.
Associate Medical Officer of Health with the Halton Public Health, Dr. Joanna Oda, says that while this could be a light at the end of the tunnel, public health guidelines should still be followed.
Dr. Oda adds that vaccination timelines are still unknown, but that information is currently being worked out by all levels of government.
On Thursday, December 10th, Ontario Premier Doug Ford released a statement saying that the province is ready to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
“Ontario is ready to receive COVID-19 vaccines as soon as they are available.
“Following yesterday’s Health Canada approval of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine, and with the province now having confirmed all necessary security measures are in place, we expect a very small number of doses to arrive in the coming days. Beginning Tuesday, December 15, these first doses will be administered at University Health Network and The Ottawa Hospital to health care workers who are providing care in long-term care homes and other high-risk settings. Ottawa has been selected in part to test and validate provincial distribution networks, as well as in recognition of the challenges the region has faced with certain long-term care home outbreaks.
“Additional details on the rollout of these initial vaccines will be released tomorrow, following today’s meeting of the COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Task Force.”
myFM News reached out to Milton MPP Parm Gill to get his reaction on the announcement of a COVID-19 vaccine being available as soon as next week. He provided the following statement on what it means for Milton:
“The approval of the Pfizer vaccine from Health Canada is welcomed news as we now have a clear path towards having vaccines available in Milton.
“The COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Task Force continues to meet regularly and will be ready to rapidly distribute vaccines as they arrive in Ontario.
“As our Premier said, ‘the light at the end of the tunnel grows brighter’.”
myFM News also asked Milton MP Adam van Koeverden and Milton Mayor Gordon Krantz for their thoughts on the vaccine. No comments were received.
Canada has purchased 20-million doses of the Pfizer vaccine, which requires people to receive two doses each, and has the option to buy 56-million more.
Health Canada is continuing to review three other vaccine candidates.
