COVID-19 vaccinations ramping up in Waterloo Region with first 1,000 health workers vaccinated

Waterloo Region – More than 1,000 local health care workers have been vaccinated for COVID-19 in Waterloo Region since December 22. Vaccination numbers will be updated weekly on the COVID-19 Distribution Task Force webpage.

Waterloo Region’s designated clinic at Grand River Hospital is ramping up operations to seven days per week. The hospital put out a call for local volunteers to help staff the clinic and received an overwhelmingly positive response with more volunteers than needed to support clinic expansion. The task force is also looking at opening additional clinic sites when vaccine availability significantly increases.

More doses of the Pfizer vaccine are expected to arrive in January, enabling the vaccination of thousands more health care workers over the coming weeks.  The task force is also preparing for the arrival of the Moderna vaccine in January. While initial quantities of the Moderna vaccine in the region are expected to be limited, the task force is planning ahead for distribution of the vaccine, including creating mobile vaccination teams that can help administer the vaccine in long-term care and retirement homes.

The province has outlined a phased vaccination plan with priority populations for vaccination. The first phase prioritizes health care workers, essential caregivers, long-term care home and retirement home residents, and First Nation communities and urban Indigenous populations, including Métis and Inuit adults. The second phase adds priority vaccination of other congregate care settings and older adults aged 70 plus. Roll-out to the broader community is expected in July. As phases are launched, communication about where and when residents can receive the vaccine will be shared broadly.

The local vaccine roll-out is following provincial priority populations and the provincial ethical framework for vaccine distribution with support from clinical and health system experts. Priority vaccination of long-term care home staff continues. While that is ongoing, vaccination will be opened up to essential caregivers for long-term care residents and high-risk retirement home staff and caregivers.

“We understand what this vaccine means to our community and are committed to rolling it out as quickly and efficiently as we can,” said WRPS Deputy Chief Shirley Hilton. “New information is available daily and we are learning and adapting our plans as we go. Thank you to the community for your patience. Roll-out of the full vaccination program will take time.”

More information and regular updates on the work of the task force are available on the Region of Waterloo’s COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Task Force webpage.

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For media information, please contact:

Connie MacDonald

Chief Strategy & Communications Officer

Region of Waterloo

Email: conmacdonald@regionofwaterloo.ca