Waterloo region hopeful for allocation of COVID-19 vaccine for next 3 weeks

Waterloo region is hopefulit willreceive its allocation of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for several weeks to come following uncertainty around supply.

The head of the region's immunization distribution task force confirmed in aboard of health meeting on Wednesday that the region has received confirmation it will receive supply for the weeks of Feb. 8, 15 and 22.

"I provide that very cautiously as we know that every week I come up with another scenario in terms of vaccine and vaccine supply," said Shirley Hilton, who is also deputy chief for the Waterloo Regional Police Service.

"It does offer some planning hope in terms of the teams in getting second doses of vaccines to our long-term homes and high-risk retirement homes," Hilton said.

She said the mobile clinical teams have already began the process of looking to administer second doses between Feb. 3 and Feb. 12.

She said officials are also looking at when they can resume operations at the vaccination clinic at Grand River Hospital, which provides vaccinations for health-care workers. It has been paused so mobile teams can provide services to people in long-term care and high-risk retirement homes.

16,000 doses administeredso far

The region has so far administered 16,000 doses of the vaccine. Hilton said, if supply allows, the region has a goal to provide 10,000 vaccinations a day in the near future.

"The teams are actually preparing for that. So when they start to look at their mandates in terms of looking at our sites,looking at who else can participate in the vaccination of the population, that's where we bringour primary care doctors, that's where we bring in our pharmacies," said Hilton.

In the meeting, Dr. Hsiu-LiWang, the region's medical officer of health, said lockdown measures have so far been effective and that COVID-19 rates are heading in the right direction.

The region's new daily case count continues to drop with 34 cases reported on Wednesday. The region is also sitting at about 434 active cases.

Rules for businesses

As Ontario's stay-at-home order is approaching its scheduled end date on Feb. 9, the board is also calling on the province to review its Reopening Ontario Act to ensure fairness for all businesses big box and small.

"We are and have heard from more businesses and constituents looking for a more equitable capacity limits and fairness for small businesses," said Coun. Michael Harris, who introduced the motion.

A recent provincial inspection found a 55 per cent compliance rate of big box stores and other retailers in the region when it comes to COVID-19 regulations.

Harris said an enhanced inquiry process would "allow small businesses to ensure what laws are to make sure they're compliant. We know businesses in this area want to be compliant and want to adhere to regulations but most important keep staff and patrons safe."