Ontario Premier Doug Ford has joined the fray questioning York Region's announcement that vaccine eligibility would now be expanded to "high priority" health-care workers like chiropractors, massage therapists and naturopaths.
Ford said in a news conference that he would prefer the public health unit focus on completing vaccinations of residents aged 80 and over before offering appointments to the additional frontline health care workers included in the provincial phase one priorities for vaccine distribution.
"I am encouraging every single public health unit, take care of the most vulnerable ... and then we will get to the massage therapists and everyone else," said Ford today.
“I’ll talk to the public health officer out in York and ask him what the rationale is,” he added.
York Region announced the expansion of eligibility to more health-care workers Tuesday, meeting a barrage of criticism from many residents who took to social media to express their concern.
"Seriously?' asked James MacLarnon on NewmarketToday. "Massage therapists and nutritionists? Psychologists and holistic care? Who exactly made these absolutely discretionary decisions? Politicians? The goalposts keep moving for us seniors."
As of Wednesday, York Region has vaccinated nearly 66 per cent of residents aged 80 and over, according to its public dashboard.
York Region began vaccinating residents over the age of 80 on March 1, two weeks ahead of the province's launch of its booking system, after the limited doses were first administered to residents of long-term care, retirement homes and congregate care settings, while continuing to vaccinate highest and very high frontline health-care workers who live or work in York Region.
