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Friday, February 26, 2021 3 Brooklin Town Crier Durham Region Vaccine Plan Whitby Regional Councillor Rhonda Mulcahy I hear you: Patience is wearing thin in the wait for COVID-19 vaccines. I also have people close to me who are in risk categories and I'm anxious about how to get them vaccinated so they can have some normalcy back in their lives. The federal government procures the vaccines then distributes them to the provincial governments. Ontario's government is leading the distribution of vaccines through a three-phased distribution implementation plan. In Durham Region, the COVID-19 Vaccine Steering Table (with representation from Durham Region Health Department, Lakeridge Hospital, and local primary care physicians) is planning to implement vaccine distribution and administration for Durham residents according to the provincial plan, vaccine availability, and the provincial ethical framework. We are in Phase 1. The plan for the broader population of Durham residents will be available when information is received from the province. When this occurs, the Health Department will communicate details through durham.ca and media outlets. Healthcare partners will continue to receive information through the Health Department's normal process of communication. As part of the province's vaccine distribution plan, the immediate priority groups to receive vaccines in Durham Region are: Staff and essential caregivers in long-term care homes, high- risk retirement homes and First Nations elder care homes, and any residents of these settings that have not yet received a first dose of vaccine. Alternative level of care patients in hospitals who have a confirmed admission to a long-term care home, retirement home or other congregate care home for seniors. Highest Priority health care workers, followed by Very High Priority health care workers, in accordance with the Ministry of Health's guidance on Health Care Worker Prioritization. Indigenous adults in northern remote and higher risk communities (including on-reserve and urban communities). When all immediate priority groups have received vaccination for COVID-19, the remaining Phase 1 population will receive the vaccine, including: Adults 80 and older. Staff, residents and caregivers in retirement homes and other congregate care settings for seniors (e.g., assisted living). Health care workers in the High Priority level, and in accordance with the Ministry of Health's guidance on Health Care Worker Prioritization. All Indigenous adults. Adult with chronic home care. You will be contacted directly if you are part of the immediate priority groups. There will be broad communication to the community and health care providers when appointments can be booked for those remaining in Phase 1. Additional information about when and how to register is still to come. COVID-19 vaccination clinics will be operating the first week of March for priority populations These clinics will take place in Oshawa at Durham College and Ontario Tech University and in Pickering at Chestnut Hills Development Complex. These clinics will be used for priority populations in accordance with provincial guidance. These clinics will not be open to the public and they will not take public bookings. Municipal vaccination clinic locations Through our partnerships with local area municipalities, area residents will have access to community-based COVID-19 vaccination clinics in all Durham Region municipalities. Additional information on when these clinics will be open will be provided as more details become available. Implementation dates for clinic openings will vary; population groups will be notified when they may register for clinics. Ajax Audley Recreation Centre Brock Rick MacLeish Memorial Community Centre Arena Clarington Garnet B. Rickard Recreation Complex Oshawa Durham College and Ontario Tech University Pickering Chestnut Hills Development Complex Scugog Scugog Arena Uxbridge Uxbridge Arena Whitby McKinney Centre Mobile clinics will also be available to provide vaccines to populations and individuals who may have difficulty accessing larger clinics. In the meantime, stay safe and know all of us will do everything we can to ensure we can expedite the vaccine process. Durham Region and the Town of Whitby are ready, waiting and willing to move mountains to get this process underway. Provincial COVID-19 3 Phase Plan