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Zalan: People 80 and over, teachers should be prioritized for vaccines

Who should receive their vaccine first? Those most at risk

Deliveries of COVID-19 vaccine doses are back on track. Millions of doses are set to arrive in Canada over the coming weeks. All 34 public health units across Ontario are rolling out their vaccination programs independently. 

The Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health Unit started vaccinating adults aged 80 and up last Friday. 

“Because we have completed vaccinations for all long-term-care and retirement home residents, we have begun to include our seniors over age 80 and indigenous adults as we prepare to vaccinate our very high priority healthcare workers in the next groups,” a spokesman said in an email.

Adults aged 80 and older living in Ottawa neighbourhoods with high infection rates can now call to book their appointments to receive the vaccine, with vaccinations to begin this Friday.

In Sudbury, vaccination of highest-priority health-care workers began last week. This week, doses of the COVID-19 vaccine will be offered to long-term-care staff and essential caregivers, plus retirement home residents. 

Planning with First Nation communities and urban Indigenous partners is underway to offer the vaccine starting this week. The next priority for vaccination is adults 80 years of age and older. Details are not yet available. It may be weeks before vaccinations begin.

The Ontario government announced last Friday that an online portal will be set up by mid-March and that family physicians will be asked to call their elderly patients to book vaccination appointments.

An 85-year-old family friend called me to find out how to book her appointment. I reassured her that her family doctor, who I also know, will make sure that she does not get forgotten. When I called her family doc, he emphasized that he has received no information to date from the government.  

There are a lot of details to work out. For the fragile elderly, who live at home and lack social support, who will make the appointments and provide the transportation? Family doctors are eager to help. 

Pharmacies have also been advocating to be involved in the rollout, arguing that they should be used to organize immunization campaigns. 

Nova Scotia opened a community clinic this week in Halifax for those older than 80. Alberta is accepting appointments for those older than 75 starting on Wednesday. Quebec is accepting bookings for their oldest seniors starting this week.

There is controversy over who should be provided with protection from the virus next, after vaccinating all long-term-care residents (a done deal). Research suggests focusing on two groups: essential workers who cannot avoid safe distancing at work and individuals 80 years and older. 

In Sudbury, individuals 80 years and older have been moved to the back of the Phase One vaccination bus. With active and variant cases rising in our community, this is a serious misstep. 

Jean Hanson and Algonquin Road Public Schools and Lo-Ellen High School all just closed due to COVID-19 infections. École Alliance St-Joseph in Chelmsford is also closed. Public Health reported 13 new cases of COVID-19 over the weekend and 32 on Monday, setting the record for a single day. 

There were eight suspected variant cases reported last week. Dr. Penny Sutcliffe said this week 28 cases of variants of concern have been detected in the region.

This sad outcome begs the question: Who are the essential workers who should be vaccinated immediately? Workers by the way, who are nowhere to be seen on the list for essential workers in our public health district? Based on the latest news on infections in Sudbury, they are our teachers. 

In summary, individuals 80 and older must be offered appointments for vaccination at the earliest opportunity. Then vaccinate 24 hours a day, while supplies last. Teachers must be added to the list of essential workers for immediate vaccination.

Dr. Peter Zalan is past president of the medical staff at Health Sciences North. 


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