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COVID-19 vaccine Q & A: Yes, some doses are being wasted in York Region due to syringe size

York Region Public Health says vaccine waste is “very minimal and uncommon", about 1,220 doses were wasted last month, for instance
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Q: Is it true that Pfizer vaccine doses are being wasted in York Region due to syringe size?

A: Yes, though York Region Public Health says is “very minimal and uncommon.” About 1,220 doses were wasted last month, for instance, officials say.

The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine vials contain six doses — however, getting the sixth dose out is most likely when a 1 cc syringe is used, they say.

According to York Region Public Health, it began procuring COVID-19 immunization supplies last summer, without “direct knowledge” of what would be required for vaccination distribution, including needles (3 cc syringes), cotton pads and bandages.

York Region, similar to public health units across the province, says it has tried to procure 1 cc syringes for months without luck. 

The province is now receiving vaccine ancillary supplies from the federal government, including 1 cc syringes, which are being provided on a 1:1 basis with the Pfizer vaccine.

“At this point, 1 cc syringes are being delivered, but not with every shipment,” regional spokesperson Patrick Casey says.

Supply is anticipated to increase, however, the lack of consistency in getting the sixth dose has significantly impacted operational planning based on vaccine supply. The vaccine tracking systems continue to count every vial of Pfizer vaccine as a six-dose vial.

“So when we can only get five doses, unfortunately the sixth dose is counted as wastage. York Region Public Health is advocating to have changes made to the tracking system to track the concept of wastage more accurately,” Casey says.

Q: Are there vaccines “sitting in freezers” in York Region? How does the number of vaccines delivered compare to the number of doses administered?

A:  No, according to medical officer of health Dr. Karim Kurji, who says vaccines are not being left on the shelves in York Region’s freezers.

Demand far exceeds supply. York Region has the capacity to administer 10,000 doses every day, but there is a “notable gap” of about 165,000 doses in anticipated supply until the end of May, Dr. Fareen Karachiwalla, associate medical officer of health, said last week.

In March, York Region received 125,000 vaccines and administered 90 per cent or 112,661 vaccine doses, according to Casey. 

Since late December 2020 to March 31, 2021, York Region received approximately 199,000 vaccine doses and administered 83 per cent or 166,005 vaccine doses (37,000 doses of Moderna and 162,000 doses of Pfizer), Casey says.

About 43,700 doses of Pfizer were allocated to public health-led clinics and interventions, and the following approximate doses went to hospital partners and agencies: 

  • 41,400 doses of Pfizer to Mackenzie Health
  • 30,400 doses of Pfizer to Markham Stouffville Hospital
  • 46,500 doses of Pfizer to Southlake Regional Health Centre 

Q: Why was I able to book an appointment at the Markham Stouffville Hospital Cornell Community Centre for 60+ prior to it being available at the clinics near me in Newmarket and Georgina? Is it because that clinic is using AstraZeneca?

A: The clinic at the Cornell Community Centre is the only clinic in York Region using the provincial vaccination booking system, which is aligned with the Ontario government’s current phase 2 vaccine distribution priorities.

According to York Region Public Health, it had to delay eligibility to aged 60 and over at its clinics, and it continues to delay eligibility to some of the identified high-priority hotspot locations, due to delayed vaccine supplies.

Appointments for all other vaccination clinics in York Region, including Newmarket and Georgina, can be booked at york.ca/COVID19Vaccine.

The Pfizer vaccine is being administered at the hospital-led clinics in the region, at Ray Twinney Recreation Complex, Cornell Community Centre and Vaughan Cortellucci Hospital.

Public-health led clinics are administering Moderna and Pfizer.

The AstraZeneca vaccine is being administered at local pharmacies and at the Soccer City clinic in Stouffville.

Q: I’m beyond frustrated and worried. I’m 67 and need to get the Pfizer vaccine because of my fragile health and I still haven’t been able to book an appointment in Newmarket. If the vaccine is in such short supply, why are younger people whose lives aren’t threatened by COVID getting the vaccine now?   

York Region is seeing a resurgence in cases mainly in younger age groups due to variant activity, according to Dr. Kurji.

While it is important to continue to vaccinate older age groups, only 10 per cent of the faster-spreading variant cases are accounted for in residents aged 70 and older now, he says.

In York Region, data shows hospitalizations are occurring for residents aged in their 40s and 50s who reside in certain postal code areas, including L4K, L4L, L6A and L4J in Vaughan and L3S in Markham.

“York Region Public Health continues to work to vaccinate everyone in the eligible age groups as efficiently and safely as possible; our hotspot strategy will not impact our work to administer vaccines to other groups in the provincial prioritization, including other age groups,” Casey says.

The Ontario government stated last week that limited vaccine supplies will be focused on the 20 per cent of the province that has 80 per cent of the COVID-19 cases, he says.

"The Ontario government stated they will increase vaccine supply to hotspot areas by 25 per cent, but have not indicated how this will impact York Region," Casey says. 

Due to supply limitations, the public health unit is currently offering vaccines in only five of the region's hotspot communities despite the province identifying by postal code a total of 13 areas where York Region residents are eligible.

On Tuesday, April 13, province further expanded vaccination eligibility to individuals aged 18 and over in designated hotspots, starting with residents of Toronto and Peel.

According to York Region's public dashboard today, of 10 York Region residents currently in ICU: one is a Newmarket child aged 0 to 3; one is aged 19 to 34; one is aged 45 to 54; four, including a Newmarket man, are aged 55 to 64; and three are aged 65 to 79. All the cases are identified as variants.

Q: Indigenous adult vaccinations in urban communities are part of the province’s phase one rollout, with Indigenous communities such as Georgina Island a top priority. Indigenous in urban communities such as Newmarket are a second priority in phase one. How is this being announced to the Indigenous public at-large?

A: York Region Public Health says it has completed the second doses of COVID-19 vaccine for the Chippewas of Georgina Island: 161 doses were administered 28 days after the first dose.

Through “community partners connected to Indigenous communities,” Indigenous adults and adult household members were invited to attend two Indigenous-friendly clinics March 29 and 30 at Richmond Green and Georgina Ice Palace. The specialized clinics were developed through partnership and collaboration with Indigenous-serving agencies and partners.

Indigenous residents of York Region and their adult household members are eligible to receive their COVID-19 vaccine at any of clinics in York Region; to book an appointment, visit york.ca/COVID19Vaccine

 


 

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Debora Kelly

About the Author: Debora Kelly

Debora Kelly is NewmarketToday's editor. She is an award-winning journalist and communications professional who is passionate about building strong communities through engagement, advocacy and partnership.
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