Ahead of the expected increase in COVID-19 vaccine shipments to Ontario in the next few weeks, the province has identified the priority groups for Phase One of their vaccine roll out plan.

“While the province’s allocation reduction has had a significant impact on the pace and breadth of vaccine delivery, it has not stopped the vaccination program rollout and it does not change the commitment to vaccinating its highest risk populations and those who care for them,” the province said in a memo sent out Sunday afternoon.

Ontario was forced to make adjustments to it’s Phase One vaccination plan following a sudden announcement that Pfizer-BioNtech would delay vaccine shipment to Canada earlier this year. However, they say the provincial target of providing a first dose offer of vaccine to residents in all long-term care homes and high-risk retirement homes is now almost complete. “At this time, we are pleased to report that residents at all long-term care homes across the province have been given an opportunity for their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine.”

Now, with an influx of expected vaccines arriving to the province, they have released a priority list for the remainder of phase one.

The immediate priority for first-dose vaccinations are as followed:

• Staff and essential caregivers in long-term care homes, high-risk retirement homes
  and First Nations elder care homes, and any residents of these settings that have not
  yet received a first dose of vaccine.
• Alternative level of care patients in hospitals who have a confirmed admission to a
  long-term care home, retirement home or other congregate care home for seniors.
• Highest Priority health care workers, followed by Very High Priority health care
  workers, in accordance with the Ministry of Health’s guidance on Health Care Worker
  Prioritization (enclosed).
• Indigenous adults in northern remote and higher risk communities (including on-reserve and urban communities).

The province says when each Public Health unit has taken all reasonable steps have been taken to complete first-dose vaccinations to all of those listed above the next priority group can start to receive vaccines.

The next priority for first-dose vaccinations are as followed:

• Adults 80 years of age and older.
• Staff, residents and caregivers in retirement homes and other congregate care
settings for seniors (e.g., assisted living).
• Health care workers in the High Priority level, and in accordance with the Ministry of
Health’s guidance on Health Care Worker Prioritization.
• All Indigenous adults.
• Adult recipients of chronic home care.

Second Dose Intervals:

The province says that second dose appointments for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine will be administered between 35 and 42 days after the administration of the first dose to increase the availability during this limited supply time.

However, the following group will receive a second dose between 21 to 27 days:

• Residents of long-term care, high-risk retirement and First Nations elder care homes,
• Residents of other types of congregate care homes for seniors, and
• Those 80 years of age and older.

All second doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine should continue to be provided 28 days after the administration of the first dose, in accordance with the Ministry of Health guidance.