York Region begins Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine rollout

Immunizations to start with vulnerable residents in long-term care homes

Yorkregion.com
Jan. 4, 2021
Kim Zarzour

Residents in York Region long-term care homes are set to begin receiving Moderna COVID-19 vaccines.

Dr. Karim Kurji, the region’s medical officer of health, announced Jan. 2 that on that day, public health will begin the process of delivering the vaccines to select long-term care and high-risk retirement homes.

The region is one of four areas in southern Ontario identified by the province to participate in the initial rollout of the vaccine that, unlike the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, does not require special freezer facilities and is easier to transport.

The Pfizer vaccine has been administered to staff and essential caregivers at Southlake in Newmarket and Mackenzie Health since Dec. 22.

The two hospitals were among 19 Ontario facilities selected for the first phase of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines.

In York Region, the Moderna vaccine will first be available to residents of long-term care homes and high-risk retirement homes.

Public Health will distribute the vaccine while staff at the homes will administer it on site to their residents.

It’s expected the vaccine will help protect approximately 3,700 York Region long-term care residents in 28 homes.

Following distribution to long-term care homes, York Region Public Health will begin delivery of the Moderna vaccine to retirement homes and other congregate care settings for seniors, Dr. Karim Kurji, York Region’s Medical Officer of Health, said.

Best practices learned during these pilots will be shared and applied within public health units across Ontario as they begin their local distribution, he said.

“This is an exciting and hopeful step forward in our fight against COVID-19. By prioritizing vaccines for residents of long-term care homes, we are protecting some of our most vulnerable York Region residents.”

To date, York Region has lost 257 residents to COVID-19 within institutional settings.

York Region will not publicly share specific dates and times of vaccine delivery out of respect for residents and for the safety and security of the vaccine, Kurji said.

The COVID-19 vaccine is voluntary but highly encouraged for those who are eligible -- not only for personal protection but for the safety and well-being of others, he said.

For long-term care residents who are unable to consent to the vaccine for themselves, the long-term care home will work with their substitute decision-maker to obtain consent.

Family members and substitute decision-makers are advised to contact their respective homes for more information.

The Ontario government has indicated most Ontario residents will be offered the vaccine by early fall 2021.

In the meantime, Kurji advises everyone to continue avoiding social gatherings and to practise physical distancing, mask-wearing and handwashing.