Province Gearing Up for Phase Two of Vaccine Rollout

Friday, 5 March 2021 13:47

By Linda Morgan

The province of Ontario is making preparations for the second phase of its vaccine distribution plan.

Premier Doug Ford says that with Phase One nearing completion, the province is on track to begin Phase Two of its vaccination rollout plan in April.

Under Phase Two, people between 60 and 79, people living in high-risk congregate settings, people with specific chronic health conditions and their essential caregivers, and essential workers who can't work from home, including first responders, will be able to get a shot.

The province also announced intentions to give all adults 60 and older a first COVID-19 shot by the end of May.

Premier Ford says he's encouraged by the recent approvals of the AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson vaccines for usage in Canada.

"Over 2 million more doses are expected to be here by the end of March, including 194,500 doses of the newly approved AstraZeneca vaccine...we're also encouraged today that J&J single shot vaccine has now been approved for use in Canada, giving us a fourth vaccine in our arsenal."

Phase Two is slated to start in April and continue until July.

Retired General Rick Hillier, who is leading the COVID-19 vaccination rollout, says that the province hopes to give every Ontarian who wants to get vaccinated one shot by early summer.

"By the end of June we should have enough vaccinations to get 1 needle in the arm of every person in Ontario who is eligible and wants a vaccine. I want to actually challenge this even further and I want to say by the first day of summer, vaccine supply dependent, we want to have a first needle in the arm of every person in Ontario who wants a vaccine."

In addition, 13 hot spot regions will get more 920,000 more doses.

Toronto
York
Peel
Durham
Halton
Hamilton
Niagara
Ottawa
Simcoe Muskoka
Waterloo
Wellington Dufferin Guelph
Windsor Essex

Province Gearing Up for Phase Two of Vaccine Rollout

Share

More from Local News