Vaccination against COVID-19 began in Ontario on Dec. 15, with hospitals in Ottawa and Toronto splitting the province’s first 6,000 doses.
As of March 2, there are more than 30 vaccination clinics operating throughout the province, with more expected to open in the coming weeks to facilitate immunization of the next priority groups in Phase 1 of the province’s vaccination plan.
“We know Ontarians are eager to receive this layer of protection, and we are ready to ramp up our efforts as we receive more doses from the federal government,” Health Minister Christine Elliott said last month, after Ontario announced they reached a milestone of administering over 500,000 doses.
To date, more than 727,000 doses have been administered in the province and more than 264,000 people have received both doses required for a full vaccination.
Health Canada approved the Pfizer vaccine for use in Canada on Dec. 9, approved the Moderna vaccine on Dec. 23, and most recently, approved the AstraZeneca vaccine and the Serum Institute of India’s version of the AstraZeneca vaccine on Feb. 26.
In many parts of the province, COVID-19 vaccine doses are beginning to be administered to new groups in Phase 1, which include:
• Adults 80 years of age and older
• Staff, residents and caregivers in retirement homes and other congregate care settings
• Health care workers identified by the province as high priority
• Indigenous adults
• Adults who receive chronic home care
These cohorts are being prioritized following the vaccination of the following immediate priority groups:
• Staff, essential caregivers and any residents that have not yet received a first dose in long-term care homes, high-risk retirement homes or First Nations elder care homes
