Newmarket residents got a chance to ask their questions about the vaccine rollout to the two women tasked with implementing that effort at York Region Public Health and Southlake Regional Health Centre.
The Town of Newmarket hosted a live-streamed information session Friday with the health unit's chief of COVID-19 vaccine operations, Katarina Garpenfeldt, and the hospital's director of community programs and partnerships, Gayle Seddon.
The pair went over some information about the vaccines and how the vaccination clinic at the Ray Twinney Recreational Complex works before answering some questions from the nearly 150 participants.
When will teachers and education staff get vaccinated?
Garpenfeldt said this will happen in phase two of the vaccine rollout, but it is hard to say when exactly that will be. Phase one will continue until health-care and essential workers and seniors aged over 80 are vaccinated.
How are Indigenous communities being vaccinated?
The First Nations community on Georgina Island has been immunized already, said Garpenfeldt.
"Much like everything we have been doing with the vaccine rollout, we have been working closely with our partners. So we set up a clinic on Georgina Island in collaboration with our paramedics," she said.
How will people be notified when they will get the second dose of the vaccine?
A resident pointed out that they had not been given a time and date for a second dose of the vaccine and wondered how they would get that information.
Seddon said that emails would be coming out on Monday containing that information. The second appointment will, by default, be scheduled for the same day of the week and time as the first one. However, people can reply by email to request a different time if necessary.
When will people under 80 be able to get the vaccine?
Many participants in the meeting asked questions about when different age groups would likely be able to access the vaccine.
Garpenfeldt said it is too early to say when any particular age group will be approved to receive the vaccine.
"That is so dependant on supply and the introduction of new vaccines in the country. The more vaccines that are approved by Health Canada ... the larger groups of people we will be able to immunize," she said.
"But it can be that some vaccines will be directed to specific groups. So if a new vaccine comes onto the market, it may go to a younger age group because that's what the scientific data supports. So there are a lot of dynamics in the system."
Newmarket Mayor John Taylor, who chaired the discussion, promised that there will be an extensive communication campaign to keep people informed of when they are eligible to get the shot.
How many vaccine doses is Newmarket getting?
The province doesn't distribute vaccine doses to specific communities, just to regions.
On a weekly basis, however, York Region is getting 9,300 doses of the Pfizer vaccine.
"That is distributed to all the different sites, and it is also weighted on a number of factors such as cold chain management (keeping the vaccine properly refrigerated), transportation and things around how we manage this vaccine," said Garpenfeldt.
"As a region, we are keeping a comprehensive overview of the total number of doses we have. That way, we know to keep booking appointments and pushing the vaccine out as quickly as we can without overbooking."
Should people be checking the appointment booking website daily for available appointments?
It would be a good idea, said Seddon, as appointments are being added to the system as people end up cancelling or rescheduling their booked appointments. So it may be worth checking every morning if you are eligible but haven't been able to get an appointment yet.
How will it be decided which people with underlying conditions should get the vaccine first?
As the rollout continues, eventually, people with underlying conditions that put them at risk for complications from a COVID-19 infection — such as diabetes, heart conditions, cancer, etc. — will be eligible for the vaccine.
Some residents wondered how it will be decided which underlying conditions are a higher priority, and how they will be expected to prove they have the condition.
Garpenfeldt said the health unit is still working on this issue.
"We are working on it to come up with an order, but it is challenging, and it's hard to give a straightforward black-or-white answer. The people working on it are trying to make sure it is equitable and rolled out as fast as possible," she said.
By the time those people are being immunized, it is likely that more vaccines will be on the market, so the careful rationing that has been taking place now will not be as necessary.
Will people be able to choose which vaccine they get?
Yes and no. Garpenfeldt noted that if you are eligible for a vaccine but decide to wait because the one you want is not available, you are free to do so. You won't lose your eligibility, and you can sign up for an appointment at any time in the future.
But there is no guarantee that the specific vaccine you want will be available even if you wait for it. So she advises that people just to accept whichever vaccine is available when they become eligible.
If you experience side effects after getting the vaccine, does that mean it's working?
No, said Seddon, there is no scientific data to back up that idea. Side effects do not indicate whether the vaccine is working well in your body or not. Most will pass within 48 hours with no harm done, anyway.
What counts as proof of address?
Basically, any kind of official document with your name and address on it.
"It could be from the Town of Newmarket; it could be from the province. It just needs to be something that says this individual lives at this address. And, just as a reminder, your address is not on your health card," said Seddon.
How will people get their proof of vaccination?
When people check out at the vaccination clinic, said Seddon, you receive a printed document, as well as a digital version by email.
How do people without access to a computer or a phone book an appointment?
Seddon said there is a team that is actively working to reach out to homeless and other individuals in this situation.
But anyone with a computer or phone can book an appointment for someone. So people and organizations who know individuals in this situation can help them make an appointment.
Garpenfeldt added that the health unit is also working on finding solutions for barriers that may prevent people from accessing the vaccine.
This includes home-bound residents or others who cannot travel to one of the main clinics.
The health unit is working on a mobile immunization model, where public health workers will bring the vaccine to people. The problem that they are trying to solve is how to transport a single dose of the vaccine.
Will there be 24/7 clinics when more vaccine is available?
No. While it may be possible to run the clinics 24 hours per day, said Garpenfeldt, it would likely be better to use those resources to open more clinic locations instead. The health unit doesn't expect many people to want to get immunized in the middle of the night.
