Vaccines are safe, effective and the best way to protect you and those around you from serious illnesses like COVID-19. Visit our COVID-19 vaccine page for more information.
The supply will not arrive all at once, so distribution will happen in stages. The goal is for everyone in Waterloo Region to be able to get a COVID-19 vaccination if they want one, as soon as enough doses are available.
The Province’s three-phase vaccination program is now in Phase 1. This phase prioritizes health care workers, essential caregivers, long-term care home and retirement home residents, First Nation communities and urban Indigenous populations, including Métis and Inuit adults. Read Ontario's vaccine distribution implementation plan for more information about Phase 1, 2 and 3.
We expect to update vaccination totals Monday to Friday in the early afternoons
with data that are current as of 5:00 p.m. the previous day.
Background
As part of its pandemic response and recovery efforts, the Region of Waterloo has formed a COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Task Force. Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS) Deputy Chief Shirley Hilton will lead the task force, which will draw on expertise of staff from several agencies.
The task force will ensure an efficient, equitable plan is in place for delivery of the immunization program. The task force will take their guidance from the Provincial task force in the planning and delivery of the immunization program; ensuring high risk populations are prioritized and that the vaccine is distributed safely and securely.
Members of the task force
- Karen Redman, Regional Chair
- Bruce Lauckner, Region of Waterloo CAO
- Connie MacDonald, Chief Strategy & Communications Officer, Region of Waterloo
- Deputy Chief Shirley Hilton, WRPS
- Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang, Region of Waterloo Medical Officer of Health
- Dr. Sharon Bal, Primary Care Physician Lead
- Inspector Jennifer Davis, WRPS
- Nicolaas Jonkman, Emergency Planning and Business Continuity Advisor, WRPS
- Richard Hepditch, Waterloo Fire Chief
- Karen Quigley-Hobbs, Director Infectious Disease, Sexual Health and Harm Reduction, Public Health
- Douglas Bartholomew-Saunders, Commissioner Community Services, Region of Waterloo
- Stephen VanValkenburg, Chief, Paramedic Services
- Ron Gagnon, President and CEO Grand River Hospital
- Karyn Lumsden, Vice President, Home and Community Care, Waterloo Wellington LHIN
- Vickie Murray, Director of Pharmacy of GRH and St Mary’s
Task force updates
- 10,000 doses administered in Waterloo Region
- First LTC residents to be vaccinated in Waterloo Region
- Increased COVID-19 vaccine supply needed for priority populations
- COVID-19 vaccinations ramping up in Waterloo Region with first 1,000 health workers vaccinated
- Elmira Personal Support Worker first to receive COVID-19 vaccine in Waterloo Region
- COVID-19 Vaccine Arrives in Waterloo Region
- Grand River Hospital selected as initial Waterloo Region COVID-19 Vaccination Site
- COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Task Force Update
- Region of Waterloo forms COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Task Force
Task force meetings
(updated weekly on Monday afternoons)
January 6, 2021
The task force received an update about the GRH clinic which is now achieving close to 650 vaccines per day. Discussion about vaccine prioritization and planning for next phase of vaccine distribution. Outreach plan is being developed to ensure that priority populations are engaged and informed about vaccine availability and safety.
December 30, 2020
The task force discussed the ramping up of vaccine clinics at GRH – moving to 7 days a week beginning on January 1, 2021. The goal will be to get up to delivering 650 vaccines per day. Public Health and partners are looking at planning for when mass vaccination will begin and are working on the logistical plan for scheduling of staff and those to be vaccinated. Investigation of a scheduling system is underway.
Discussion about enhanced communications on the website including regular updates for number of vaccines administered each day. Discussion about the need for a vaccine education campaign.
| Previous meetings |
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December 23, 2020
The task force is preparing for future shipments of vaccine and continues to work with local long-term care homes to schedule staff for future clinics.
December 17, 2020 The task force discussed logistical plans for vaccine arrival and the first vaccination clinics. Prioritization criteria for initial vaccinations developed with clinicians and health system experts were shared and communications plans for engagement with long-term care homes and their staff were reviewed.
December 7, 2020 The taskforce held its first meeting to identify initial priorities in preparing for the safe and secure distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine at the local level. Members of the taskforce discussed priority populations, administration and distribution of the vaccine, and plans for communication to ensure transparency. Members of the taskforce will work together in the coming days to determine a plan to securely receive the vaccine, ensure safe storage, and quickly distribute to priority populations. |
Resources
About the COVID-19 vaccine (Region of Waterloo Public Health)
Government of Ontario COVID-19 Task Force (Province of Ontario)
Ethical framework for COVID-19 vaccine distribution (Province of Ontario)
Ontario’s vaccine distribution implementation plan (Province of Ontario)
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