News

The provincial government has directed all hospitals and public health units in Ontario to pause the administration of all first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, except for residents of long-term care homes and retirement homes.

The interim direction comes after this week’s news of reductions in the supply of the Pfizer vaccine. The Ontario government is directing that scheduled second dose vaccinations proceed at this time.

The change in the scheduling of first doses came into effect late Wednesday, January 20th. As a result, this will further delay healthcare workers and frontline staff in Haldimand-Norfolk from receiving vaccinations.

To date, the first round of vaccinations for area long-term care residents and staff has been completed. Vaccinations have also finished at area retirement homes.

A second dose of the vaccine is required and will be given approximately three weeks after the first dose for these residents. In addition, some staff at these facilities have been vaccinated.

We will provide updates on the status of Haldimand-Norfolk’s vaccination plan once we have more details from the province.

Since the pandemic began, approximately 1250 people have tested positive, and 38 people have died of COVID-19.