The Renfrew County and District Health Unit says they expect to receive the Pfizer and/or Moderna vaccines early in February.
Acting Medical Officer of Health Doctor Robert Cushman says there has been no confirmation of the number of doses.
The health unit has been contacting community partners including long-term care/retirement homes, hospitals, primary care, paramedics, and Renfrew County Virtual Triage Assessment Centre (VTAC), to involve them in the local planning and implementation of the COVID-19 vaccine roll out.
Phase one of the roll out includes key populations:
- Residents, employees and staff, and essential caregivers of congregate living settings that provide care for seniors;
- Health care workers (including all those who work in health care settings and those in direct contact with patients);
- Adults in First Nations, Métis, and Inuit populations where infection can have disproportionate consequences, including those living in remote or isolated areas;
- Adult recipients of chronic home health care.
Phase 2 is expected to begin in late winter, and will include:
- All members of the groups in phase 1;
- Additional congregate care settings (for example, shelters);
- Adults over 70 in expanded regions.
Phase 3 dates are unknown but will begin once priority groups from phases 1 and 2 have
received vaccinations, and vaccines are available for the general public to be immunized.
The health unit continues to remind residents to practice physical distancing, frequent hand washing, wear a mask and download the COVID-19 Alert App.