The Province of Ontario will announce the order for COVID-19 vaccine distribution and will launch an online and telephone vaccine booking system according the KFL&A Public Health.

Currently, KFL&A region is currently in Phase 1: prioritizing second doses in long-term care homes for high risk residents (See the vaccination distribution plan for KFL&A below).

KFL&A reminds community members that it will take time for COVID-19 vaccines to be distributed to everyone in the community. Currently there are no COVID-19 vaccine clinics available to the public within the KFL&A region and there is no waiting list to receive the vaccine.  Community members are asked NOT to call KFL&A Public Health to avoid flooding critical telephone lines.

• Over time, vaccine supply will increase so that all Ontarians who wish to be immunized will have access to a vaccine.
• Visit the Government of Ontario's website for up-to-date information on the vaccine and implementation phases.

The government of Ontario is rolling out a three-phased vaccine distribution implementation plan. Following a successful pilot, Ontario is continuing with the next stage of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.

There are currently two vaccines approved for use in Canada:

• Pfizer-BioNTech – approved on December 9, 2020
• Moderna – approved on December 23, 2020

There are 19 sites in Ontario administering the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. These sites are primarily hospitals in urban areas. 

The Moderna vaccine is easier to transport and store safely compared to the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Because of this, Ontario plans to administer this vaccine in long-term care homes, congregate care settings, and rural and remote locations. 

Vaccination distribution plan for KFL&A (Graphic available here)

Phase 1 – Immediate priority

Staff and essential caregivers in long-term care homes, high-risk retirement homes and First Nations elder care homes, and any residents of these settings that have not yet received a first dose of vaccine; alternative level of care patients in hospitals who have a confirmed admission to a long-term care home, retirement home or other congregate care home for seniors; highest priority health care workers, followed by very high priority health care workers, in accordance with the Ministry of Health’s guidance on Health Care Worker Prioritization; and Indigenous adults in northern remote and higher risk communities (including on-reserve and urban communities).

Phase 1 – Next priority

Adults 80 years of age and older. Staff, residents and caregivers in retirement homes and other congregate care settings for seniors (e.g., assisted living); health care workers in the high priority level, and in accordance with the Ministry of Health’s guidance on Health Care Worker Prioritization; all Indigenous adults; and adult recipients of chronic home care.

Phase 2 and 3

To be determined.

2021 Timelines (dependent on vaccine supply)

January to April populations: 

• Residents of long-term care and high-risk retirement homes

Mid February to Mid May populations:

• Staff and essential caregivers of long-term care and high-risk retirement homes, and First Nations elder care homes, and any residents of these settings that have not yet received a first dose of vaccine
• Alternative level of care patients in hospitals who have a confirmed admission to a long-term care home, retirement home or other congregate care home for seniors
• Highest priority health care workers, followed by very high priority health care workers, in accordance with the Ministry of Health’s guidance on Health Care Worker Prioritization
• Indigenous adults in northern remote and higher risk communities (including on-reserve and urban communities)

Mid March to Mid June populations:

• Adults 80 years of age and older
• Staff, residents and caregivers in retirement homes and other congregate care settings for seniors
• Health care workers in the high priority level, and in accordance with the Ministry of Health’s guidance on Health Care Worker Prioritization
• All Indigenous adults
• Adult recipients of chronic home care

June to December populations:

• To be determined

Types of vaccine clinics

• KHSC hospital based clinics
• Mobile clinics (work with individual facilities to deliver vaccines on-site
• Mass vaccination clinics (semi-permanent locations in KFL&A area)
• Strategic in-community clinics to reach high-risk  priority populations (temporary locations in KFL&A area)
• Primary care clinics
• Pharmacy clinics