Frequently Asked Questions
Community Stakeholder Information Session FAQs
Availability and distribution
| What is the status of COVID-19 vaccination in Waterloo Region? |
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Pre-registration is now open to Phase 1 priority groups, including adults 80 years of age and older. To learn more and pre-register visit our COVID-19 Vaccination Pre-Registration page. The Government of Ontario’s vaccination program is in Phase 1. COVID-19 vaccines will be available to the general public in Phase 3. Details about Phase 2 and Phase 3, including who is eligible in each phase and how they will be notified, can be found on the COVID-19 vaccine page. Learn more about Ontario’s three-phased plan on the Government of Ontario Vaccine Distribution Implementation Plan page. Visit the Waterloo Region COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Summary dashboard for the total number of doses administered, total number of residents fully vaccinated and percentage of the population fully vaccinated. |
| How many doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in Waterloo Region so far? |
| Visit the Waterloo Region COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Summary dashboard for the current total number of doses administered, total number of residents fully vaccinated and percentage of the population fully vaccinated. |
| Who is responsible for delivering and administering the COVID-19 vaccines? |
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The federal government is responsible for approving vaccines as safe and effective for use and procuring them. The provincial government is responsible for creating a provincial vaccination plan that includes distributing vaccines and supporting health system partners to deliver them to residents, starting with people who are most vulnerable. The Waterloo Region COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force will promote the importance of the vaccine, distribute vaccine doses, help immunize residents, investigate adverse events following immunization and share data with the province. This local task force will take their guidance from the Provincial task force in the planning and delivery of the immunization program, ensuring high risk populations in Waterloo Region are prioritized and that the vaccine is distributed safely and securely. |
| When will COVID-19 vaccines be available to the general public in Waterloo Region? |
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Vaccination for the general population will begin as early as August 2021, depending on the availability of vaccines. Communication about where and when residents can receive a vaccine will be shared broadly as details becomes available. Tools for communication will include web, social media, and traditional media (radio, TV and newspaper) as well as regulatory bodies, professional groups and through community partners like primary care providers and pharmacists. Read the Waterloo Region COVID-19 Vaccine Implementation Plan. Download the "Where can I go to get my COVID-19 vaccine?" Infographic for more information about who will be vaccinated in each phase and where you will be able to get vaccinated in Waterloo Region when it is your turn. |
| Who is eligible for COVID-19 vaccination now? |
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Pre-registration is now open to Phase 1 priority groups, including adults 80 years of age and older. To learn more and pre-register visit our COVID-19 Vaccination Pre-Registration page.
Ontario's three-phase vaccination program is currently in Phase 1. Visit the Government of Ontario's website to learn more about who will be vaccinated in each phase. Download the "Where can I go to get my COVID-19 vaccine?" Infographic for more information about who will be vaccinated in each phase and where you will be able to get vaccinated in Waterloo Region when it is your turn. As more supply becomes available, communication about where and when residents can receive a vaccine will be shared broadly. Tools for this communication will include web, social media, and traditional media (radio, TV and newspaper) as well as regulatory bodies, professional groups and through community partners like primary care providers and pharmacists. |
| Where will I be able to get a vaccine when it is my turn for vaccination? |
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| I am an older adult and I do not live in a long-term care or retirement home. When can I get a COVID-19 vaccine? |
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80 years of age and older:
79 years of age and younger:
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| How will I know when it is my turn to get a COVID-19 vaccine? |
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Pre-registration is now open to Phase 1 priority groups, including adults 80 years of age and older. To learn more and pre-register visit our COVID-19 Vaccination Pre-Registration page. As more supply becomes available, the Task Force will share communication broadly about where and when residents of Waterloo Region can receive the vaccine. Tools for communication will include:
Download the "Where can I go to get my COVID-19 vaccine?" Infographic for more information about who will be vaccinated in each phase and where you will be able to get vaccinated when it is your turn. |
| Is there a list I need to be on to get a COVID-19 vaccine? |
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Pre-registration is now open to Phase 1 priority groups, including adults 80 years of age and older. To learn more and pre-register visit our COVID-19 Vaccination Pre-Registration page. There is no waiting list or pre-registration for Phase 2 or Phase 3 groups at this time. The province is working on a central booking system for vaccination appointments that is not yet available for use. When a booking system is in place, the Task Force will communicate through a variety of channels to ensure local residents are aware and can be registered.
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| Can I call Public Health to schedule a vaccination appointment? |
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Pre-registration is now open to Phase 1 priority groups, including adults 80 years of age and older. To learn more and pre-register visit our COVID-19 Vaccination Pre-Registration page. There is no waiting list or pre-registration for Phase 2 or Phase 3 groups at this time. The province is working on a central booking system for vaccination appointments that is not yet available for use. When a booking system is in place, the Task Force will communicate through a variety of channels to ensure local residents are aware and can be registered.
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| When will I be contacted about my vaccination appointment? |
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We are working through the pre-registration list as quickly as we can. As clinics ramp up and vaccine supply increases, more appointments will be available. Rest assured, every pre-registered eligible person will be contacted and booked for their COVID-19 vaccination. Pre-registration is now open to Phase 1 priority groups, including adults 80 years of age and older. To learn more and pre-register visit our COVID-19 Vaccination Pre-Registration page. |
| Where can I find information to share with my community, friends, family and others? |
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Visit the COVID-19 Vaccine Communications Toolkit for posters, fact sheets and social media posts that you can adapt to fit your needs. You can use these tools will help you provide clear, correct information to the community that you live, work and serve in. |
Guidance and safety
| Which vaccines are authorized for use in Canada? |
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Health Canada has currently approved two COVID-19 vaccines in Canada. Learn about each vaccine, how it works, how it is given, ingredients, allergies, possible side effects and safety monitoring by selecting a vaccine from the list below: |
| How do I know the vaccines are safe? |
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Canada has very high standards for vaccine safety. Health Canada only authorizes vaccines in Canada after a thorough and independent review of the scientific evidence. Once a vaccine is in use, Health Canada continues to monitor and can quickly have it removed if safety concerns are identified. All COVID-19 vaccines must be authorized for use by Health Canada. Even after vaccines are approved for use, their safety and effectiveness are regularly checked by people who give them, like:
Their safety and effectiveness are also checked by:
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| I have other health conditions. How can I be sure the vaccine is safe for me? |
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Individuals are advised to discuss any concerns with their health care provider when they are invited to be vaccinated. Doctors, nurses and vaccinators will be fully informed of vaccine characteristics, effectiveness and risks. Public Health does not provide individual medical advice or care. If you have questions or concerns about your general health, or questions about COVID-19 symptoms, please speak with your health care provider, walk-in clinic/urgent care centre or a local emergency room. |
| How do mRNA vaccines work? |
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Vaccines reduce risks of getting a disease by working with your body’s natural defences to build protection. mRNA vaccines are a new type of vaccine. The Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines that Health Canada approved for use are both mRNA type vaccines. mRNA vaccines teach your body’s cells how to make a protein from the virus that will trigger an immune response and create antibodies. These antibodies help us fight the infection if the real virus does enter our body in the future as they recognize this protein. mRNA vaccines do not contain the virus and cannot give you COVID-19. Learn more about mRNA vaccines on the Government of Canada COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine page. Watch now: Dr. Kelly Grindrod, UOW School of Pharmacy explains "How mRNA vaccines work" |
| How do viral vector-based vaccines work? |
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Vaccines reduce risks of getting a disease by working with your body’s natural defences to build protection. AstraZeneca is a viral vector-based vaccine that use a harmless virus, such as an adenovirus, as a delivery system. This “vector” virus is not the virus that causes COVID-19. Adenoviruses are among the viruses that can cause the common cold. There are many different types of adenoviruses, and many have been used as delivery systems for other vector-based vaccines for decades. When a person is given the vaccine, the vector virus contained within the vaccine produces the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. This protein is found on the surface of the virus that causes COVID-19. This protein will not make you sick. It does its job and goes away. Through this process, the body is able to build a strong immune response against the spike protein without exposing you to the virus that causes COVID-19. Learn more on the Government of Canada viral vector-based vaccines for COVID-19 page. |
| Can I get COVID-19 from the vaccines? |
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No. None of the COVID-19 vaccines currently in development use the live virus that causes COVID-19. There are several different types of vaccines in development. The goal of each of the vaccines is to teach the immune system how to recognize and fight the virus that causes COVID-19. Learn more about COVID-19 vaccines authorized for use in Canada on the Government of Canada COVID-19 Vaccine page. |
| What are the most common side effects? |
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Some people may experience side effects from the vaccine, but they will likely be moderate and resolve after a few days. Some of the symptoms are part of the body’s response to developing immunity. The most common side effects include:
Even if you experience mild side effects, it is important to receive the second dose. You may get the same side effects with your second dose. Once a vaccine is in use, Canada has a strong vaccine safety monitoring system to alert public health authorities of changing trends or unusual adverse events that were not previously reported. |
| Are there any serious side effects? |
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In rare cases, serious allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) can occur. Allergic reactions can be treated and are usually temporary. Vaccine side effects will continue to be monitored as people receive the vaccine. If you have a reaction to the vaccine, it is important to contact your health care provider who will report the side effect directly to public health. As part of the surveillance work, public health will keep track of the reported side effects and adjust its guidance as required. Learn more about vaccine safety in Canada on the Government of Canada COVID-19 vaccine safety in Canada page. |
| Why should I get vaccinated against COVID-19? |
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Vaccination is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread and reduce the impact of infectious diseases, whether it is the seasonal flu (influenza) or childhood infections. Safe and effective vaccines for COVID-19 are becoming available to protect us against COVID-19. While many people infected with COVID-19 experience only mild illness, others may get a severe illness or even die. There is no way to know how COVID-19 will affect you, even if you are not at increased risk of severe complications. COVID-19 vaccination helps protect you by creating an antibody response without having to experience the illness of COVID-19. |
| Is COVID-19 vaccination voluntary? |
| Yes. COVID-19 vaccines will not be mandatory, but you are strongly encouraged to get vaccinated. |
| Should I still be vaccinated if I have tested positive for COVID-19? |
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Yes. People who have previously tested positive for COVID-19 should still be vaccinated and people do not need COVID-19 testing prior to vaccination. Due to the severe health risks associated with COVID-19 and the fact that re-infection with COVID-19 is possible, people can still get a COVID-19 vaccine even if they have been sick with COVID-19 before. At this time, experts do not know how long someone is protected from getting sick again after recovering from COVID-19. The immunity developed after having an infection, called natural immunity, is different from person to person. Some early evidence suggests natural immunity may not last very long. We need more information on how well the vaccine works to be able to assess how long immunity from the vaccine will last. |
| How long will it take for vaccination to protect me? |
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Two doses of the vaccine are required for full protection. In clinical trials:
After being vaccinated, there is a chance that you may still get COVID-19. Therefore, it is very important to continue to follow public health measures including physical distancing, wearing a mask, and staying home if you are sick. Even after being vaccinated health care workers and others must still wear personal protective equipment (PPE). |
| After I am vaccinated, can I still get COVID-19 and pass it onto others? |
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Studies of COVID-19 vaccines have shown that they are very effective at preventing people from becoming sick with COVID-19. However, right now we do not have enough information to show us how likely it is that someone who has been given a COVID-19 vaccine can develop an asymptomatic (no symptoms) COVID-19 infection and pass it to others. While there is early evidence suggesting that the vaccine may also reduce COVID-19 transmission, National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) is recommending that everyone continue to practice public health measures (e.g. wearing a face mask and physical distancing) regardless of whether or not they received a COVID-19 vaccine. More information on the vaccine’s ability to reduce COVID-19 transmission is expected in the near future. This means the vaccines will protect those who receive it from getting sick, but it is possible that someone who has been vaccinated could still carry the virus and pass the virus on to others, although it would likely be at a much lower rate. Learn more about how you can protect yourself and others on the Region of Waterloo COVID-19 page. |
| After I am vaccinated, can I go visit my friends and family? |
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No. Even once protected, you can still carry COVID-19 and pass the virus onto others. Vaccinated or not, all Ontarian’s must follow COVID-19 response framework: keeping Ontario safe and open. Waterloo Region is currently in the Red - control zone. This means only leaving your home for essential trips like: getting food, medication, supporting vulnerable people, attending school or work, accessing government services, exercising or walking pets. |
| After I am vaccinated, do I still need to follow all the public health guidelines? Do I still have to wear a mask? |
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Yes. After your COVID-19 vaccination, it is important to keep following safety measures. Even once protected, you can still carry COVID-19 and pass the virus onto others. After you get a vaccine, continue to:
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| What can I do right now? |
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Until vaccines are widely available, it remains important to take steps to protect yourself, your loved ones and our community against COVID-19. Please continue to follow public health guidelines. This includes staying home as much as possible, keep two metres (six feet) distance from others, wearing your mask and washing your hands often. Learn more about how you can protect yourself and others on the Region of Waterloo COVID-19 page. Visit reliable and trusted sources of information: |
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What percentage of the population needs to be vaccinated to reach herd immunity? |
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Herd immunity is a term used to describe when enough people in a population have protection, either through vaccination or immunity developed from previous infection. Herd immunity against COVID-19 should be achieved by protecting people through vaccination, not by letting COVID-19 spread through populations, leading to unnecessary infections, suffering and death. To safely achieve herd immunity against COVID-19, a substantial proportion of a population would need to be vaccinated, lowering the overall amount of virus able to spread in the whole population. Experts do not know what percentage of people would need to get vaccinated to achieve herd immunity to COVID-19. The percentage of people who need to have protection in order to achieve herd immunity varies by disease. While experts learn more about the protection that COVID-19 vaccines provide under real-life conditions, it will be important for everyone to continue practicing public health measures to help stop the spread of COVID-19. |
| Will those who have already received a first dose still be able to get their second dose on time despite recent supply reductions? |
| Yes. Vaccinations in Waterloo Region will continue to focus on second doses within recommended timelines. To ensure individuals receive second doses of vaccine to give them the strongest possible protection against the virus, the Ontario Government released a new directive regarding timelines for doses. The directive requires long-term care and retirement home residents to receive their second dose within 21-27 days and all other groups, expand the interval to no more than 42 days. On January 12, 2021, National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) updated their recommendations on the use of COVID-19 mRNA Vaccines, indicating that within certain contextual circumstances, the dose interval could be increased up to 42 days. This is supported by recommendation from the World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control. |
| Will the COVID-19 vaccines work with the new variants? |
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Both Pfizer and Moderna are looking into whether or not the vaccine will work on the new variants. So far, there is no evidence that shows the vaccine will not work. More research is needed, and Health Canada will watch this closely. |
Health care workers
| I am a health care worker. When will I get a vaccine? |
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Pre-registration is now open to Phase 1 priority groups. To learn more and pre-register visit our COVID-19 Vaccination Pre-Registration page. Health care workers have been identified as a priority population for Phase 1 of Ontario’s vaccination program. Because demand for COVID-19 vaccines will initially exceed available supply, the Ministry of Health has provided guidance on prioritization among health care workers. Four levels of priority (Highest, Very High, High, Moderate) have been identified by the Ministry of Health and will be used to sub-prioritize health care workers. Details can be found in the Ministry of Health's COVID-19 Guidance for Prioritizing Health Care Workers for COVID-19 Vaccination. Following this guidance from the Ministry of Health, vaccinations in Waterloo Region will focus on the following groups at the end of February and beginning of March (subject to available vaccine supply):
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Translated resources
| Is COVID-19 vaccine information available in multiple languages? |
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This website has a built in translation feature that can translate any page on the website into one of over 90 languages. To use the translation feature:
Talk to a real person 24/7 in over 200 languages at 519-575-4400
Yes, the Public Health Agency of Canada have developed a COVID-19 vaccine tip sheet that is available in French, Arabic, Korean, Punjabi, Spanish, Tamil, Ukrainian, Tagalog, Simplified Chinese, German & many other languages. Learn more about COVID-19 vaccines and download the tip sheet in one of many languages on the Government of Canada What you need to know about the COVID-19 vaccine for Canada web page. Download this information as a PDF: |
COVID-19 Vaccine Community Stakeholder Information Session
Panel Questions - February 18, 2021
Watch now: COVID-19 Vaccine Community Stakeholder Information Session
Watch now: Dr. Kelly Grindrod, UOW School of Pharmacy explains "How mRNA vaccines work"
| Why was it necessary for the police to be involved in vaccine distribution? |
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It was on March 25th that as chair of Waterloo Region - I declared a state of emergency. Since that time, there has been a Community Pandemic group representing diverse sectors of our community that have strategized and implemented the policies and procedures that have guided all of us through this pandemic.
As the board of public health, regional council has relied on the guidance of Dr. Wang as well as constant participation and input from Dr. Sharon Bal who represents primary care doctors throughout the region and Lee Fairclough, president of St. Mary’s hospital, who represents the hospitals in Waterloo Region. With the arrival of vaccine in December 2020, as Chair of the Region, it was my job to create a Vaccine Taskforce to oversee the logistics of administering the vaccines when they arrived - to the priority groups - as designated by the Province.
As I consulted, it became clear that the province had many requirements and stipulations on the elements that needed to be embedded in the leadership of this team.
This was a very complex undertaking. I consulted with several senior leaders in our community. The skill set that was required by this major community task needed someone with experience and professional training to lead our community through this daunting complexity of operation and implementation. An operation that required full participation from sectors across the community.
This thought process and investigation brought me to approach Deputy Shirley Hilton of the Waterloo Regional Police Service. In her professional capacity, Shirley has demonstrated her ability to engage the community and partner to accomplish major community initiatives—with the community and for the community. It was because of her skill and experience that I requested she consider heading up our vaccine taskforce team. While Shirley is chair the taskforce – the team is made up of and engages broadly – including with Doctors, nurses, paramedics, fire, representatives from minority and cultural communities, pharmacists, pharmacy techs, volunteers, IT experts, communications, procurement specialists, real estate agents, facilities, hospitals, clinical administrators, scheduling teams, long-term care representatives, GRT, Ontario Health Teams, and many others.
This continues to be an incredibly complex challenge – I was incredibly proud when a colleague from another Region phoned me to ask how we were doing so well in Waterloo Region --- they have since adopted many of our approaches. |
| There is distrust of the police by Indigenous and Black populations because of the violence they have experienced, how do you think Waterloo Regional Police Service leading the vaccine distribution affects vaccine hesitancy? |
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I acknowledge that based on the history between police and these communities – that this can add to challenges in addressing vaccine hesitancy. It is absolutely important that we acknowledge this as we work to build confidence in the vaccine.
I want to thank the community engagement working group for taking on this difficult task and for working with community leaders towards reconciliation with the goal of building trust in these communities and confidence in vaccine safety for their members
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| What happens if I choose not to get vaccinated? |
| Getting the vaccine is strongly recommended but it is voluntary. |
| How will the variants or strains of COVID-19 impact the effectiveness of the vaccination? |
| With the vaccines approved by Health Canada to date, so far, we are still seeing vaccine effectiveness with current variants and we will continue to monitor this. |
| Are there going to be enough vaccines available? |
| The Fed government is responsible for procuring vaccines, we have been told to expect enough vaccines for everyone who wants one by September |
| How much control do we have locally over the vaccine roll out? |
| The Federal government is responsible for procuring vaccines, the Provincial government determines who gets vaccinated and when. Locally we distribute the vaccines to community members as quickly as we can in alignment with the provincial framework. |
| We have been told you need photo identification to get vaccinated. What happens to those who don't have photo identification, for example people experiencing homeless, refugees? |
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It can be anything that confirms the identity of the client and has a number/code assigned to it. Government issued, or another form of identification – it doesn’t really matter. We have used employee identification in the past. The purpose is to be able to identify that the client is who they say they are and to be able to locate the person in provincial database in order to enter their second dose (recognizing that some people share the same name and date of birth).
We are still able to immunize those without identification. We would provide them with a phrase or unique number that they would need to provide at their second dose (something they will remember).
In addition, we are currently working with community organizations and health care providers who serve priority groups like people who are experiencing homelessness or the refugee population
to ensure that there are plans in place to provide vaccinations in way that would be accessible to these populations.
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| We’ve heard from our consultations, that some populations face additional challenges receiving health care, for example migrant workers & the Rohingya, how will they be reached? |
| For populations that face barriers in accessing health care or accessing one of public sites for vaccinations, other options are being worked on through consultations with community leaders and healthcare organizations that serve these communities. It could be that a mobile clinic is a more suitable option. |
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How are people’s concerns being addressed about the speed at which the vaccine was approved? There are concerns from Indigenous, Black and racialized peoples related to being test subjects in the past for drug experiments that often resulted in death. How are they being addressed?
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Promotion of information to stakeholders and community leaders. For example, information sessions like this one, explaining the development of the vaccination and communicating messages about the vaccine need to also acknowledge this history and seek to address concerns. By sharing information with these communities related to the clinical trials, current ethical protocols, etc. so that they know that this is not part of how vaccines are currently being developed.
Watch now: Dr. Kelly Grindrod, UOW School of Pharmacy explains "How mRNA vaccines work" |
| Can I get vaccinated at my doctor’s office? |
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We are in the planning phases of developing 6-8 primary-care based vaccination clinics. These will likely come to be in Phase 2 of vaccination roll-out (spring time). The primary care based clinics will be open to the entire community, not just those patients that happen to be rostered to doctors at that site. For example, we may set up a clinic downtown Kitchener, hosted by Centre for Family Medicine, but we would stream all eligible patients in a certain age/ priority group to that site.
Many family doctors will be participating in these clinics (and may not be employees of the host site). We’ve also had a large number of physicians wanting to help vaccinate at mass immunization sites.
But these are still plans and may change.
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| Can I choose where to get vaccinated? |
| Our goal is make choices available where we can, as long as supply permits. Once your cohort is up for vaccination according to provincial direction, we hope to give people choices such as being vaccinated at one of the fixed sites, or at one of the primary care locations Dr. Bal talked about. |
| Are there any animal products including (pork) or fetal cells in the vaccines? |
| No. |
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How are you going to ensure that that non English speaking residents, and those who are blind or partially sighted and deaf and hard of hearing are included in Regional communications? How is that communication being made accessible? Is plain language available?
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Yes, plain language vaccine information is available. The Region of Waterloo website allows people using text-only browsers or other assistive technology to read the content on the page, including text descriptions for all images. We are actively working to achieve a fully accessible website.
This website has a built in translation feature that can translate any page on the website into one of over 90 languages. To use the translation feature:
Some documents on the Region of Waterloo's website are available in a PDF format. Adobe Reader is required to open these files. You can download Adobe Reader free of charge from the Adobe website.
While PDFs are accessible, our COVID-19 Vaccine Communications Toolkit includes a text only version of each PDF. This is a new approach that was done to allow the translation feature to be used.
In addition, staff have access to the Language line which has virtual American Sign Language feature for anyone with hearing challenges. Language line also offers over 200 languages for interpretation. Alternative formats can be requested through the call centre.
Other options available to residents without computer access:
• Call centre translation: Talk to a real person 24/7 in over 200 languages at 519-575-440
• Deaf and hard of hearing (TTY): 519-575-4608
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| What training is being done to ensure that health care professionals, staff, and volunteers involved in vaccine distribution have cultural competency skills and will not use discriminatory practices and exhibit racist attitudes? |
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Currently, we are working on required training and orientation package for staff and volunteers who will be part of the vaccine distribution. In terms of cultural competency and safety, training will include:
This is an ongoing process.
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| The Region did not to collect Race based data, how are you going to ensure equitable distribution of the vaccine? |
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Our goal is to ensure that everyone who wants a vaccine gets one, the community engagement working group has started consultations with traditionally underserved groups in our region to ensure their voice informs the vaccine roll out plan.
There are limitations to what the provincial vaccine software system can collect, unfortunately race based data is not part of what the system can record at this time, but we’ve raised this with the Ministry and they responded that they have plans to make this possible in the future. In the meantime, we are looking at other ways to collect this data.
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What happens to people who don’t want to get added to the vaccine database?
Who has access to the data (the information collected at vaccination) and is it going to be shared?
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We will still offer immunization to those who do not wish to be entered into COVax. We would need to use a paper form to document the vaccination and that would be kept on file with Public Health (confidentially held with our records).
Right now the Ministry, hospital clinics and Public Health units have access to the information in the data base. There are a couple of advantages to having the information entered in COVax: Immunization information for individuals who move between jurisdictions in Ontario will be readily accessible so that errors in timing of administration and over/under immunization can be prevented – i.e. individuals who receive one dose in one jurisdiction can easily receive the second dose in another.
If there is a recall of a specific vaccine lot number - this is easily tracked and the corresponding clients who received that lot number can be contacted. This allows the individual to access proof of their immunization at the time of vaccination and also in the future, if needed.
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| How will you ensure that there are enough mobile sites to reach the identified high-risk populations? |
| We want residents to have choice in how they get vaccinated, for communities who face barriers, we are working with leaders and health providers to add mobile sites based on needs. |
| How can organizations be involved in vaccine roll out? |
We’ve had lots of organizations reach out to offer supports, at this point we are looking for specialized skills and expertise and have posted jobs on the Region’s website
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COVID-19 Vaccine Community Stakeholder Information Session
You asked. We answered. Community questions - February 18, 2020
Supply, types and efficacy
| If we vaccinate at a faster rate than other regions in Ontario, will we have to wait for the rest of the province to catch up to us before we can vaccinate the next age group/priority population? |
| Going forward, vaccine will be more evenly distributed amongst regions than earlier on in the rollout. We would likely not receive more vaccine that we are able to distribute to our highest priority groups that would be prioritized at the time. |
| When will we get the vaccination? |
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The Province’s three-phase vaccination program is now in Phase One. Phase One prioritizes residents, essential caregivers, staff and other employees of long-term care homes, retirement homes, and other congregate settings caring for seniors at high-risk; eligible health care workers in accordance with the Ministry of Health guidance; adult chronic home-care recipients; First Nation communities and urban Indigenous populations, including Métis and Inuit adults. Phase 1 also now includes those over the age of 80. Phase Two is expected to begin as early as April in Ontario, depending on availability of vaccines. The following groups will receive vaccines in this phase:
Vaccination clinics across the province are not open to the general public at this time. COVID-19 vaccination for the broader community will not be available in Waterloo Region until summer or fall 2021 when the province launches Phase Three. Currently, Region of Waterloo Public Health and health care providers cannot schedule vaccine appointments for the general public and COVID-19 vaccine clinics are not maintaining “wait lists.” As the province rolls out its three-phased vaccine distribution implementation plan, we will share information about where and when residents of Waterloo Region can receive the vaccine. |
| Who is representing persons with intellectual disabilities on this committee? Who do we contact provincially and in Waterloo Region to advocate for persons with Down Syndrome to be included in the high-risk priority group? |
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In Ontario’s three-phase rollout, individuals with high-risk chronic conditions are included in Phase Two: Ontario Ministry of Health COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Plan (PDF)
Phase Two does include at-risk populations and further prioritization according to medical conditions. These are still to be clarified but certainly clinical aspects such as medical complexities will be part of these discussions. Further information will be forthcoming.
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| It has been announced by the Canadian Down Syndrome Society that persons who live with Down Syndrome are of very high risk of them getting the virus and in many cases likely to die at a higher rate than the regular population. Where does this population fit into the schedule of vaccinations in Waterloo Region? |
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In Ontario’s three-phase rollout, individuals with high-risk chronic conditions are included in Phase Two: Ontario Ministry of Health COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Plan (PDF)
Phase Two does include at-risk populations and further prioritization according to medical conditions. These are still to be clarified but certainly clinical aspects such as medical complexities will be part of these discussions. Further information will be forthcoming.
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| Are you able to speak to any particular strategies or tactics to reach members of our local Anabaptist communities? |
| We have worked with leaders in the rural community and Anabaptist faith leaders to gather their input about how to ensure vaccine information is available in appropriate and accessible ways for the rural and Anabaptist communities. We are also seeking to coordinate with nieghbouring municipalities to ensure consistency and avoid unnecessary duplication of vaccine information. |
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Are people living with dementia deemed a high-risk population? |
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In Ontario’s three-phase rollout, individuals with high risk chronic conditions are included in Phase Two: Ontario Ministry of Health COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Plan (PDF) Phase Two does have included in it at-risk populations and further prioritization according to medical conditions. These are still to be clarified but certainly clinical aspects such as medical complexities will be part of these discussions. Further information will be forthcoming. If they also belong to another priority group in Phase One (e.g., they are living within a long-term care home), they would be offered immunizations as part of the Phase One priority groups. |
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Are shelter workers considered essential workers or nonessential? |
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Frontline health care workers in shelters are now part of the Very High Priority Health Care Workers group, as per Ontario’s latest Guidance for Prioritizing Health Care Workers for COVID-19 Vaccination (see link below). The Highest Priority and Very High Priority Health Care Workers are part of Phase One. Ontario Ministry of Health COVID-19: Guidance for Prioritizing Health Care Workers for COVID-19 Vaccination (PDF) |
| For multigenerational families with adults over 80 residing in the family home, not in a senior home or long-term care, would the other adults in the same household be considered as essential caregivers and qualify for the vaccine with them? |
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It is specific to congregate care settings such as long-term care, retirement homes, and other congregate care settings for seniors at this time, not personal residences. Here is the definition for criteria in those cases: "A caregiver is a type of essential visitor who is designated by the resident and/or their substitute decision-maker and is visiting to provide direct care to the resident (e.g., supporting feeding, mobility, personal hygiene, cognitive stimulation, communication, meaningful connection, relational continuity and assistance in decision-making)." |
| I am a 75 year old female and have asthma. Should I be concerned? |
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Individuals are advised to discuss any concerns with their health care provider when they are invited to be vaccinated. Doctors, nurses and vaccinators will be fully informed of vaccine characteristics, effectiveness and risks. Public Health does not provide individual medical advice or care. If you have questions or concerns about your general health, or questions about COVID-19 symptoms, please speak with your health care provider, walk-in clinic, urgent care centre, or a local emergency room. |
| If someone is currently taking medication for lung conditions, asthma or heart conditions, is there any restriction on taking the vaccine? |
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Individuals are advised to discuss any concerns with their health care provider when they are invited to be vaccinated. Doctors, nurses and vaccinators will be fully informed of vaccine characteristics, effectiveness and risks. Public Health does not provide individual medical advice or care. If you have questions or concerns about your general health, or questions about COVID-19 symptoms, please speak with your health care provider, walk-in clinic, urgent care centre, or a local emergency room. |
| I would like to ask about putting a ring of protection around children who are most vulnerable - full disclosure I work at KidsAbility! We are concerned that our children are very vulnerable and our best protection is to vaccinate the staff and families around them. Can someone speak to how the task force might support children with disabilities to be safe by ensuring their health care providers are included in Phase One of the vaccine rollout? |
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Frontline health care workers for developmental services are part of the High Priority Health Care Workers group, as per Ontario’s latest Guidance for Prioritizing Health Care Workers for COVID-19 Vaccination (see link below). The Highest Priority and Very High Priority Health Care Workers will be the offered vaccine first, starting in Phase One. The High Priority health care workers will then be offered vaccine next, as soon as supply allows. |
| It has remained unclear through the communication for our workplace, the Consumption and Treatment Services (through Sanguen Health Services, Public Health, and the Region of Waterloo) when we will be eligible for the vaccination. Recently, our community has seen a large increase in COVID-19 cases, in our specific community that we work with as clients at our site. We are a vulnerable group and would like to be able to serve our community, as it would cause another crisis if we had to close our doors due to an outbreak. When will the Consumption and Treatment Services in Kitchener staff be eligible for vaccinations (i.e.. which group do we fall under)? We have nurses, support workers and peer workers, all of whom are frontline and vulnerable, and continuously working with an extremely vulnerable group. |
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Health care workers providing needle exchange / syringe programs, and supervised consumption and treatment services are now part of the Highest Priority Health Care Workers group, as per Ontario’s latest Guidance for Prioritizing Health Care Workers for COVID-19 Vaccination (see link below). Among health care workers, the Highest Priority group will be among the first to be offered vaccine first, starting in Phase One. Ontario Ministry of Health COVID-19: Guidance for Prioritizing Health Care Workers for COVID-19 Vaccination (PDF) |
| How will the vaccine information be communicated to those who are homeless and/or those who are not tech-savvy to access the information via the internet? |
| Information about the vaccine and distribution of the vaccine to individuals experiencing homelessness will be available in emergency shelters and through emergency shelter staff. |
| For Indigenous people to get the COVID vaccine, what is considered an “Indigenous” person and do they require a status card to register? |
| Vaccination clinic staff will not be asking for status cards. There are many in the community who do not have one for various reasons. It is a self-identification process. |
General population
| What about children? Why is no vaccine available to them although they still go to school? |
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The vaccine trials were in people over the age of 16 (Pfizer) or 18 (Moderna and AstraZeneca). There are trials currently underway on kids aged 12-18 and will soon start trials in kids age 6+. Children may need a different dose than adults as they have stronger immune systems so we need trials to know the best way to vaccinate them. |
| Younger adults, 20-39, range from invincible to over-busy with family life. How can we all encourage them to get the vaccine, when it is their time? |
| This is a good question. One way is to ensure options that make immunizations accessible to busy families such as the ones you describe. We are working to make sure Public Health mass immunization sites have evening and weekend hours, and that primary care and pharmacies known to patients are also options, for many who are used to working with these settings to get care. We can encourage them to get vaccinated by highlighting this is the best way to keep us all safe, and back to "normal" sooner! |
| When the vaccination program enters Phase Two and education workers are eligible for vaccination, how will you ensure that education workers in independent schools will be able to access vaccines and not only those working in publicly funded schools? |
| We will be using multiple ways to communicate when groups become eligible for the vaccine and details about how to get vaccinated. These include mass communication (for example print ads, radio, etc.), social media, engaging directly with employers and professional associations, and publishing information on the Region of Waterloo COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Task Force webpage. We recommend regularly checking the Region’s website to remain informed. |
| Will households of health care workers receive the vaccine at the same time as them? Or is each person considered an individual on the rollout plan? |
| Each person is considered as individual and will be offered vaccination as per the prioritization framework as set out by the province. |
| Those who choose not to take vaccine, do they need to let their friends and family know or their teachers know? |
| No, people do not need to reveal their immunization status to others. |
| Should we get the vaccine if we previously contracted the virus? |
| Yes, absolutely. You would likely have some immunity from the infection but it’s not clear how long that lasts. However, we know how effective the vaccine is. Therefore, even if someone was infected with COVID in the past, they should still get the COVID vaccine. |
Clinics
| Is there information on how appointments will be booked? We are getting a lot of questions at our office regarding those worried about online bookings especially for older adults. |
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Priority populations are now able to pre-register online. There is also a phone option for anyone who chooses not to book online: COVID-19 Vaccination Pre-registration for Priority Groups
Primary care and specialist offices will get information from the Task Force including communication from Public Health (Medical Advisories) and Primary Care physician leads to keep them the loop about options for their patients. These will include a pre-registration link, or phone number, with services in different languages and for those with hearing impairments. There are also options where physicians can work with their staff or family members identified by patients to assist them with bookings.
NOTE: This event took place on February 18. Since that time, the Region of Waterloo have launched COVID-19 Vaccination Pre-registration for Priority Groups. |
| Does public health come to people houses or workplaces to get the COVID-19 vaccine? |
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No vaccinations will be provided at people’s home at this time. For people who cannot leave their homes, we will work with home and community care programs to complete vaccination. For the general public, we are planning options to give people a choice of where to get vaccinated (see the 5 types of clinics that are being planned). |
| My Father is 91 and living on his own but has Personal Support Workers coming in Monday through Friday. When I call his doctor and my own doctor they don’t know how we will get the vaccine for him or for us. My husband and I are both over 60. How will my Father get vaccinated? |
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Family physicians and nurse practitioners in primary care offices will be kept informed about the Region's vaccine rollout and will be able to direct patients to a pre-registration system as it evolves. This will include people who are 80 years of age and older. For those persons who are housebound, we will work with Home and Community Care and other system partners once we receive vaccine that can be delivered in people's homes.
NOTE: This event took place on February 18. Since that time, the Region of Waterloo have launched COVID-19 Vaccination Pre-registration for Priority Groups. Priority populations are now able to pre-register online. There is also a phone option for anyone who chooses not to book online. |
| Where are the two large-size locations in this region? |
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The two large public health clinics will be located at:
• 435 The Boardwalk, Medical Centre 2, Waterloo • RONA, 66 Pinebush Road, Cambridge
In early March, the clinic at The Boardwalk will open for adults 80 and older who have been recently added as a priority population to Phase One of the vaccine rollout. The RONA location in Cambridge will open after a number of modifications are made so the site can operate as a clinic. As vaccine supply stabilizes, additional small to mid-size clinics will open across the Region in primary care offices, pharmacies and other community locations. |
| Will there continue to be police presence at public health clinic for vaccines? |
| There will be security presence at clinics. |
| How long after the end date for mass immunization will vaccines continue to be available in case someone first declines? |
| Once Ontario enters Phase Three of the vaccine rollout, when we expect there will be an ample and regular supply of vaccines available, anyone who wishes to receive a COVID-19 vaccine should be able to receive it. |
Getting vaccinated and aftercare
| When you get the COVID-19 vaccine, does it hurt just like the flu shot? |
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Common side effects are listed on the Region of Waterloo COVID-19 Vaccine page. Common side effects are similar to the flu shot and include:
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| Do people who have been vaccinated still need to wear a mask and social distance? |
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Even once protected, you can still carry COVID-19 and pass the virus onto others. After you get a vaccine, continue to:
• Wear a face covering in enclosed public places and on transit;
• Practice physical distancing between yourself and people outside your household;
• Wash your hands often with warm water and soap or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer;
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth;
• Stay home when you are sick;
• Sneeze and cough into your sleeve; and
• Avoid contact with people who are sick.
Learn more about how you can protect yourself and others on the Region of Waterloo COVID-19 Vaccine page. |
| Will people receive a certificate to represent after the vaccine? Will that certificate be a mandate to utilize some services? |
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Vaccines will not be mandatory, but you are strongly encouraged to get vaccinated.
Currently we do not know the details of what documentation will be available onsite at the vaccination clinic. Please check back for updates as more information becomes available. |
| What are the long-term side effects? |
| There are no clear long-term side effects. The vaccines are tracked closely in the first six weeks to watch for bothersome side effects (fever, etc.) and serious side effects (neurological effects like Guillain Barre). After six weeks, any symptoms are unlikely to be related to the vaccine. That said, COVID does appear to have long-term effects so vaccination may be able to protect you from the long-term effects of a COVID infection. |
COVID-19 Dashboard
| Does the dashboard take into account individuals who work in this region and live elsewhere, or the opposite, who live here, and work elsewhere? |
| We prioritize individuals within our community according to the provincial guidelines. That does mean that there will be individuals in roles such as staff in long-term care / retirement homes, health care workers, congregate living staff, and essential workers for example that may not live in the Region, but are prioritized based on the work they do within the Region. The dashboard is broadly based on the work of our epidemiologists which will include anyone that works in those prioritized fields, in addition to those remaining residents who reside here. Those individuals that reside in the region, but work outside of the region in any of the prioritized fields will likely be accounted for in those geographical areas. There will be some duplication but it does provide us broad understanding of our population. |
Deployment and volunteering
| I’m a local travel physician and family physician and have secured several new medical-grade freezers and fridges from Accucheck and can accommodate both Pfizer and Moderna Vaccines. I’m centrally located and can provide vaccination to marginalized communities. Will I be able to secure vaccine doses and when can I get them? |
| We are using a 5 clinic type approach, which will rely on primary-care practices in Waterloo Region to provide vaccines to patients in Phase Two and Phase Three. Initially, we will be working with 6-8 primary care clinics in the Region such as Family Health Teams and Community Health Centres as they have access to significant infrastructure and additional staffing, but over time as we get fridge-stable vaccine and larger quantities, we will work with additional practices with willingness and ability to support immunizations in primary care. |
| As a volunteer (not a medical professional) how can I become involved with the vaccine rollout? |
| Please contact Volunteer Services at volunteerservices@regionofwaterloo.ca. Stay tuned for more information about volunteer opportunities. |
Accessibility, website, video and contact
| Some of the communication tools are not accessible for people utilize screen reading programs. The clients we work have struggled to access information in the format that they require. Our clients who are Blind or partially sighted have struggled with physical distancing and knowing if people around them are wearing masks. We would like to work with the Region to ensure information is available to our clients. |
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The Region of Waterloo website allows people using text-only browsers or other assistive technology to read the content on the page, including text descriptions for all images. We are actively working to achieve a fully accessible website.
Some documents on the Region of Waterloo's website are available in a PDF format. Adobe Reader is required to open these files. You can download Adobe Reader free of charge from the Adobe website.
Alternative formats can be requested through the call centre.
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| Is that Google translator plug-in? |
| Yes, it uses Google Translator, which is called through JavaScript. |
| Will a video of the Town Hall be available? |
| Yes - the full length video of the COVID-19 Vaccine Community Stakeholder Information Session is available on YouTube. |
| What is Dr. Wang’s email address? |
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Inquiries from the public can be directed to publichealth@regionofwaterloo.ca or 519-575-4400.
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More Information
- Waterloo Region COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Task Force (Region of Waterloo)
- COVID-19 Vaccine (Region of Waterloo Public Health)
- COVID-19 Vaccine Communications Toolkit (Region of Waterloo Public Health)
- Getting a COVID-19 vaccine in Ontario (Province of Ontario)
- Vaccine safety, concerns and possible side effects (Health Canada)
- Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines: Overview (Health Canada)
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