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NEW: The provincial government sent out an important update about #COVID19 vaccines this morning that impacts how the Niagara rollout of Pfizer will operate in the immediate future. (thread)
As you know, Pfizer is upgrading its European manufacturing capacity, causing a temporary reduction in Pfizer shipments to Canada. Shipments to Canada will fall by 50% next month.
Until today, the vaccination strategy was to get the first of the two-dose Pfizer series into as many vulnerable people as possible (LTC residents, HC workers) with the expectation that the second dose will arrive within the 21-day window to have it administered.
Given the delay in Pfizer shipments, the Ontario government has made a change to that strategy.
What does this mean for Niagara? It means @niagarahealth and @NRPublicHealth are going to have to ensure that everyone who has and is receiving their first Pfizer dose will get their 2nd dose with the windows noted above. That means some doses will have to be held back.
This means fewer people will be vaccinated in this first round of shots, but it also means that those who get vaccinated will be fully vaccinated.
We will follow up with both @NRPublicHealth and @niagarahealth to find out how this ship will impact their current vaccination rollout.
The Moderna schedule (2 shots in 28 days) is unchanged. A shipment of Moderna vaccines headed to Niagara was diverted elsewhere by the provincial government. No explanation has been given and @ONThealth @samoosterhoff and @fordnation have declined to answer questions about it.
Health ministry, Oosterhoff, avoid addressing diverted COVID-19 vaccine shipment https://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/news/niagara-region/2021/01/14/health-ministry-oosterhoff-avoid-addressing-diverted-covid-19-vaccine-shipment.html via @StCatStandard
Once we have a clearer understanding of what adjustments are being made to the vaccine rollout in Niagara, we'll publish updated stories. Also, follow @abenner1 for more this weekend.
Be safe, be smart, and be kind.
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Be safe, be smart, and be kind.
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