The MPP for Bay of Quinte says vaccines are starting to trickle into the area.
Speaking on the Lorne Brooker Show, Todd Smith announced that 1,950 doses of the Pfizer Biontech vaccine has landed in Kingston.
He says some of those doses will stay in Kingston, others will go to the Brockville area, and some to the Quinte region.
” I know that Piotr Oglaza and the team at Hastings Prince Edward Public Health, have identified the long-term care homes and the high risk retirement homes that are going to be receiving the vaccines.
Smith added that some local front line workers have already travelled to Kingston to receive their vaccine.
Another 1,950 doses will arrive again next week and the week to follow.
Smith says doses will not be coming directly to the Quinte region.
“The vaccine will be shipped to Kingston. There is some pharmacy work that has to take place in diluting that vaccine before it is actually taken up into syringes and then put into people’s arms.”
There is a six hour window from when it is diluted, to when it has to go into people’s arms.
From its arrival in the Quinte region, the shots will need to be administered right away.
” A package of the Pfizer vaccine will be arriving next week, again that is 1,950 doses, and then the following week again another package. We have 5,000 residents alone in the long term care facilities (in the Quinte region).”
The MPP says the focus after the long term care homes will be the front line workers.
Some front line workers in North Hastings will be able to receive the vaccine where they are, but not necessarily in the south.
” Because it is a little bit easier to get around than it would be for somebody from north Hastings to get here, they will be picking a central location from what I understand. More details will be coming from the Public Health Unit.”
Rollout to the general public is expected to start in late winter or early spring.
