“When we get the vaccine, you'll get the vaccine.” That essentially was the answer that Ontario Premier Doug Ford provided when Sudbury.com asked him Jan. 8 when this part of the province is going to be included in the vaccine rollout plans.
So far, Queen's Park has focused vaccine distribution on so-called hotspots in Southern Ontario; areas such as Toronto, Peel region, York region, Ottawa and Windsor-Essex.
To date, most Northern Ontario communities have not been part of the plan, with the exception of health-care workers in Thunder Bay and residents in a handful of remote First Nations communities.
As the premier began his news briefing Friday morning, he mentioned that many people across Ontario are raising questions about the effectiveness of the Ontario vaccine plan.
Ford said availability is the problem right now. He said vaccines are being administered to health-care workers for long term care homes, for hospitals and other venues as quickly as possible. Ford told reporters that current supplies of vaccines in Southern Ontario are quickly being depleted.
"All of Ontario will be out of Pfizer vaccine by the end of next week," said the Premier. "We are all hopeful the federal government will get us more vaccines."
Ford was asked about any specific plans for vaccine distribution in Northern Ontario.
"You've mentioned First Nations on the James Bay Coast, and some of the Nishnawbe Aski communities, but for communities such as Sudbury, North Bay, Sault Ste. Marie and Timmins, we have heard nothing. What can you say about that Premier?" Sudbury.com asked the premier.
"They will be coming shortly. The more vaccines we have, we're going to be rolling them out to all regions of Ontario," said the premier.
Ford said his office had been in touch with the medical officer of health in Sudbury and the CEO of the hospital and complimented them.
"You have two great folks up there,” he said.
Ford quickly added that the provincial priority is to look after the "hot spots" which are currently in Southern Ontario.
"What we're doing as Phase One is making sure we take care of the hot spots and looking after long-term care, seniors residence and we are going to be doing the same throughout the rest of Ontario," said Ford.
"Again up in Sudbury, North Bay and the rest of the northern regions, the first areas we are going to hit are the long term care homes, senior residences and front line health-care workers," Ford continued.
"I appreciate the question. All I need is vaccines. If there is one thing the federal government can do — and they're trying, they're trying their best -- is we need more vaccines."
At an earlier news briefing, the premier said the focus would be on providing vaccines to health-care workers and long-term care homes in Southern Ontario communities between now and January 21.
On Friday, Ford told reporters that current supplies of vaccines in Southern Ontario are quickly being depleted as the effort continues to vaccinate frontline health-care workers and long-term care home residents.
"All of Ontario will be out of Pfizer vaccine by the end of next week," said the Premier. "We are all hopeful the federal government will get us more vaccines."
The premier said he had been in contact with Ottawa to plead for more vaccines for Ontario.
"You know something, I have to tell the people of Ontario. The Prime Minister is working his back off. He's trying his very, very best. He really is. It's not like they have a couple of million doses sitting in a freezer up in Ottawa."
Ford also mentioned he believes Canada should be approving the third and newer version of the COVID-19 vaccine, the AstraZeneca vaccine which has been approved in the U.K.
Ontario is currently using the Pfizer BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, which are the only two vaccines approved for distribution in this country by Health Canada.
"We are in desperate need of the vaccines here. If there is one thing I am going to ask Health Canada again, it's please approve AstraZeneca.”
Ford said the vaccine has been approved by other health agencies around the world
"That would really, really help us out," he said.
Len Gillis is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter at Sudbury.com, covering health care in Northern Ontario. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the federal government.