Ontario meets deadline for first round of long-term care home vaccinations

 

TORONTO -- Ontario says it has completed the first round of COVID-19 vaccinations in all of its long-term care homes.

The province had committed to vaccinating every eligible long-term care resident who wanted a shot by Wednesday.

Premier Doug Ford gave credit to retired general Rick Hillier and his vaccination rollout task force for getting the first round of doses in long-term homes complete despite shortages.

"It is critically important to vaccinate, and provide an extra layer of protection, for the residents in our long-term care homes and those who care for them," said Ford. "But due to a shortage of supply and unpredictable deliveries, meeting our goals has been a challenge."

The Ministry of Long-Term Care said more than 62,000 residents have received the first dose of the vaccine, and more than 34,000 of them have received their second dose.

The provincial government said it will maintain the recommended interval of 21-27 days for residents who received the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

"This milestone marks an important step towards the immunization of our most vulnerable," said Merrilee Fullerton, minister of long-term care.

The Canadian Press