Grey Bruce Health Unit to distribute about 1,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine this month

Grey Bruce medical officer of health Dr. Ian Arra has announced that the Ontario Ministry of Health has approved the release of two initial shipments of the Pfizer COVID-19 (Coronavirus) vaccine to the Grey-Bruce region.

The first of these shipments will be arriving this week, and the second shipment will be arriving the week of Jan. 25, states a press release, issued Sunday.

In total, the two shipments will contain approximately 1,000 doses of vaccine. As directed by the health ministry, the allocation of this initial quantity of vaccine will be limited exclusively to residents, staff and essential workers in long-term care, using the provincial Ethical Framework for COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution.

“This exciting development will be welcome news to staff, residents and families of long-term care facilities and other essential workers,” states Arra. “The vaccine plan for Grey-Bruce will continue to follow the provincial framework, and will ensure those most at risk are first in line to receive the vaccine."

Due to this small initial shipment, not all residents and staff will receive the vaccine immediately, but as more shipments arrive, this priority population will continue to be first in line, states Arra.

Dates, times and locations will be co-ordinated with relevant long-term care facilities as the health unit moves through this first phase of vaccination against COVID-19 in Grey and Bruce. “We ask the public to please avoid calling, in an attempt to schedule vaccinations at this time,” states Arra.

“The health unit remains the lead in COVID-19 response in Grey-Bruce, as we have been since the genesis of this pandemic,” Arra says. “With no deaths related to COVID-19 in Grey-Bruce, we know that our collaborative efforts with our local partners have been successful in containing the greatest harms of this virus.

“With the province sending us this shipment of the vaccine, we are now able to look forward to hammering the first nail in the coffin of this pandemic. The vaccine is key to ending this pandemic, and allowing all of us to get back to our normal lives. Until then, it is critical we continue to practise as we have been; this is not the time to let our guard down.”