The provincial government has selected a Western University assistant professor and bioethicist to sit on its newly formed COVID-19 vaccine distribution task force.
Dr. Maxwell Smith was among nine appointments to the task force announced on Friday.
In addition to co-directing Western's Health Ethics, Law, and Policy (HELP) Lab, Smith serves as an ethics advisor for the World Health Organization. He also led a Canadian government-funded project that examined how the world’s response to the Ebola virus might serve as an ethics template for the COVID-19 outbreak.
Other members include President and CEO of air ambulance service Ornge Dr. Homer Tien, Toronto infectious diseases consultant Dr. Isaac Bogoch, Western Chancellor and CEO of Canadian manufacturing company Linamar Linda Hasenfratz, Ontario's Chief Coroner Dr. Dirk Huyer, Ontario Regional Chief RoseAnne Archibald of Taykwa Tagamou Nation, President and CEO of technology industry association TECHNATION Angela Mondou, and former Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders.
Chaired by retired Canadian Forces General Rick Hillier, the task force will oversee delivery, storage, and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines in Ontario.
"This is a critical stage in our fight against COVID-19. The task force we have assembled will play a key role in developing and implementing Ontario's immunization program," Health Minister Christine Elliott said in a statement. "I am confident that with the collective knowledge, experience and advice from these experts, Ontario will be ready to deliver the vaccines in an ethical, timely and effective manner as soon as they are available."
The task force will begin its work immediately focusing on delivery, logistics and administration, clinical guidance, and public education and outreach. Discussions at its first meeting, scheduled for Friday afternoon, will centre around priority populations for receiving the vaccine. Premier Doug Ford will be in attendance at the inaugural meeting.
"The safe, secure and successful delivery of COVID-19 vaccines is a huge undertaking," said General Hillier. "I am honoured that these outstanding individuals with expertise in health, industry and logistics are joining our task force and I look forward to working with them on this important mission."