Wednesday, January 27th, 2021
Subject: Vaccination roll-out
Dear Premier Ford and Minister Elliott:
Our members/staff are engaged community health providers who have been fighting on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic since it began. We are aware that vulnerable and home-bound individuals in the community are slated as the next priority group to receive vaccinations. These people are cared for by our providers.
Dear Members,
We are writing to provide you with an update from our united Primary Care COVID-19 Vaccination Action Council (*PC-VAC). This week’s key messages that we shared with vaccine decision-makers can be found here.
There are several updates this week:
Vaccination Availability:
January 19, 2021
Dear Minister,
We would like to thank you and your team for your ongoing work in ensuring the people of Ontario stay safe
as we combat the pandemic. Your tireless efforts are greatly appreciated.
Dear Members,
We are writing to provide you with an update from our united Primary Care COVID-19 Vaccination Action Council (*PC-VAC). Each week, we advocate for a shared set of bottom-line messages to vaccine decision-makers. You can read the bottom lines for this week here.
January 14, 2021
Sent via email
Premier of Ontario
Legislative Building
Queen's Park
Toronto ON M7A 1A1
Dear Premier Ford,
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the evidence has become clear: paid sick leave is essential to protecting our province from the catastrophic impacts of unchecked virus transmission, and its toll on marginalized populations.
Dear Members,
As you are aware, the COVID-19 response is changing rapidly.
As mentioned earlier this week, the Primary Care COVID-19 Vaccination Action Council* is very active in provincial advocacy efforts. We are meeting regularly with many partners including the Ontario Hospital Association, Public Health, Ontario Medical Association, Ministry of Health staff and Vaccine Task Force representatives.
Here is a complete list of COVID-19 situation reports received in 2020. We have noted a glitch from #202 to #333 (now #303) and are working to update them. If you would like to receive an affected report, please email info@afhto.ca.
Shared Dec. 15, 2020
Shining a Light at the End of the Tunnel: Guiding Considerations for a Safe, Accessible and Equitable COVID-19 Vaccination Framework in Ontario
A COVID-19 vaccination strategy needs to include defining and prioritizing populations to ensure the gradually available supply is distributed with transparent criteria that consider protecting those most vulnerable. It must also include plans and guidance for vaccine distribution and administration that consider the specifics of each different vaccine and the different avenues for administration available and/or advisable in different phases of vaccination.Essential infrastructure in this strategy must include surveillance and evaluation to ensure:
While current vaccines have been shown to protect those vaccinated from experiencing signs and symptoms of the virus, it is not known if they also prevent its spread. Therefore,protective measures (such as masking, physical distancing, hand and respiratory hygiene) will remain imperative even for those vaccinated to ensure Ontarians are protected as much as possible.This paper lays out considerations for each of these components to support the development of Ontario’s COVID-19 vaccine strategy based on the insights and expertise of Ontario’s physicians and informed by consultation with key health system stakeholders.These recommendations are intended to begin this important dialogue and will require refinement as more information becomes available.
Shared Dec. 14, 2020
Summary guidance released on December 14, 2020 by the Ministry of Health includes the following: