Ottawa is ready to receive the COVID-19 vaccine upon arrival: Head of the COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force in Ottawa

Ottawa-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine is expected to arrive in Canada on Monday, so the head of the Ottawa COVID-19 vaccine distribution task force said the city was ready to start vaccination. Stated.

However, neither Anthony DiMonte nor Healthcare Officer Dr. Vera Etches have stated whether Ottawa will receive the first COVID-19 vaccine when it arrives next week.

Dimonte, Head of Emergency Services in Ottawa, said: “This will be one of the biggest tasks we do here.

“Logistically, we mobilized all over the city.”

Health Canada approved the Pfizer-BioNTEch COVID-19 vaccine for use in the country on Wednesday, with the first dose expected to arrive next week. Sources told CTV News Ottawa on Tuesday night that state hot zones such as Toronto and the Peel region would be a priority for the next delivery.

During media availability after Wednesday’s council meeting, CTV News Ottawa asked the city if it was ready to vaccinate next week.

“Yes, as we have said, if we receive the vaccine next week and our partners can start by sticking a needle in their arm, the city is ready. Our hospital partners and the public Hygiene partners are working with us and are ready. “

“This is being driven by the state and deciding what zones get what and how much. All we’re doing is being ready to receive what they have. , Follow the priority of who should receive it. “

Dimonte states that the Ontario government will decide where to first distribute the vaccine.

“There was a lot of controversy, and this is clearly still a moving goal, as state officials are looking at what the federal government will offer to Ontario,” Dimonte said.

“The health team has decided where to distribute it in the state, so we haven’t got a clear answer at this time, but we expect it to happen in the next few days. If Ottawa is considered a region. I’m ready. I’m going to get the vaccine. “

At a council meeting, Mayor Steve Canellakos said hundreds of city officials would be stationed to help administer the COVID-19 vaccine within the next few weeks to months.

Dimonte said it was all manual to help administer the vaccine to one million inhabitants.

“We have fully mobilized. We are considering all sorts of tasks, from how to move the vaccine. We will follow state orders as to who is the priority group to receive the vaccine.” Dimonte said.

“To achieve this, we need to mobilize clinicians. Therefore, to be able to vaccinate people, we need to be medical professionals. To do so, hundreds of people are vaccinated. The clerical staff and IT team are mobilized as follows. Well, it’s an important operation. We probably have hundreds of different levels to support this operation. It will attract city officials, so it’s an important task. We have a lot more than that. The work is already done. “

The Public Health Agency of Canada said on Wednesday that it would begin vaccination of the general population in April 2021 and plan to vaccinate all Canadians by the end of next year.

Dimonte states that many discussions with the federal and state governments are still underway and the city will follow all advice.

“As vaccines begin to arrive, priority groups are identified and different models are available,” says Dimonte.

“And perhaps knowing what the public will look like later next year, so that even our team can be mobilized for all urban facilities and people can appear there to be vaccinated. There will be multiple facilities throughout the city, so that’s a lot of work, the team wants it! “

Dimonte adds that the federal and Ontario governments will provide an ultra-low temperature freezer to maintain the Pfizer vaccine when it arrives.

Ottawa Public Health is working with the City of Ottawa’s COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Task Force to prepare for the deployment of the COVID-19 vaccine.

“This will be a process that will take months,” Dr. Etches said.

Dr. Etches said the Ottawa Public Health Service will work with the city on communication strategies and other steps to administer the vaccine.