Pfizer-BioNTech mobile clinic part of Hamilton’s new Vaccination Program

Today, the City of Hamilton announced a new COVID-19 vaccination program that will be going out to residents at long-term care and high-risk retirement homes.

As part of this pilot program, a mobile clinic will carry the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines to these homes. The clinic began at Idlewyld Manor today and will expand to include the vaccination of all of those living in high-risk homes in the city by January 18th. This includes residents in homes that are currently in an outbreak.

The existing vaccination clinics will continue to run.

The City of Hamilton says the criteria for selecting the sequence of long-term care and high-risk retirement homes was based on the following: risk of COVID-19 transmission, previous and current outbreak status, scheduling logistics in order to complete as soon as possible.

“The continued expansion of the COVID-19 vaccination program is extremely important in Hamilton right now, and I am eager to have our teams begin vaccinating some of our most vulnerable population,” said Medical Officer of Health Dr. Elizabeth Richardson in a statement. “I am encouraged by the amazing work that is taking place at the current clinic and now the expansion to include mobile clinics. This is about protecting those most at risk of COVID, saving lives and preserving healthcare capacity for all. We need to continue to fight against COVID-19 in our community.”

As of January 7th, Idlewyld manor is only reporting one active case of COVID-19 to a staff member.

Hamilton’s largest current outbreaks are at Grace Villa Nursing Home with 232 cases and 43 deaths, Shalom Village nursing home with 185 cases and 18 deaths, and Juravinski Hospital’s F5 Unit with 106 cases and 9 deaths.

The city says they are expecting more information from the Provincial Government regarding the local distribution of the Moderna vaccine which will allow more of the priority populations to be vaccinated. Vaccination roll-out will be based on the prioritization framework as determined by Provincial guidelines.

The current fixed-site vaccination clinic at Hamilton Health Sciences will continue to take place 12 hours a day, seven days a week to deliver vaccine as the supply is received from the provincial government. This is a by appointment only clinic for eligible priority groups and walk-ins are not permitted.

It is expected that vaccines will become available for more people in the winter and spring of 2021. It is expected that by end of 2021 everyone who wants a vaccine will be offered a vaccine free of cost.