Chatham-Kent Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Colby is anxiously waiting for the second shipment of COVID-19 vaccines expected to arrive next week.
Dr. Colby said he was told by the ministry to expect more doses next week, but he's not certain exactly when. He said the next shipment should be enough to complete vaccinating of all long-term care residents in Chatham-Kent.
According to Colby, about 400 residents or half of all residents in local long-term care facilities have been vaccinated. However, that doesn't include those at Fairfield Park Nursing Home in Wallaceburg due to the current outbreak. He said the vaccine doesn't prevent the virus from taking over after someone has been infected because the incubation period of the infection is shorter than the time it takes for the vaccine to kick-in.
"The province does not recommend vaccination teams go into long-term care homes that are in outbreak," Colby said. "Until that situation stabilizes I don't think there's any point in going in to vaccinate the residents."
CK Public Health is aiming to have all local long-term care residents vaccinated by February 5, 2021.
Colby added the vaccine that arrived on Monday was administered within 24 hours and he is very proud of his team for quickly jumping into action.
"Every dose of vaccine that we received was administered, and in record time," said Colby. "Not a single dose was wasted and we were actually able to eke a few extra doses out of some vials and vaccinate more people."
Colby said residents in long-term care, high risk retirement homes, and First Nations communities will get the vaccine first and the rest will depend on the supply of vaccines. There's an ethical framework for vaccine distribution in the province, but Dr. Colby would prefer the shots to go to the elderly most at risk first.
"I would be happiest if we got huge amounts of vaccine and could open it up right away to everyone," the doctor said. "My personal view is I think it should be based on risk of complications and mortality and the greatest predictor of that is age."
Colby said he is very is reluctant to make predictions but suspects mass vaccination clinics will be around by April, again depending on supply. He believes there will be a time when the COVID-19 shots will be widely available to everyone in places such as pharmacies, doctors' offices, and other various clinics.
Colby also agrees with the provincial projection that everyone who wants a vaccine, can get one by the end of August. He added things could get better and move a lot faster if and when Health Canada approves the other vaccines in the pipeline.