On December 9, 2020, Health Canada approved Pfizer's first vaccine against COVID-19. After a thorough review, Health Canada determined that it met the department's strict standards. On the Government of Canada website, it is also possible to read the details on this vaccine, in particular on its operation, the method of administration and the safety of use. According to the Government, approval of the vaccine is based on solid evidence of its safety, efficacy and quality.
Now who will be the first to receive the vaccine, when will the vaccination start and how can you access it? Here are all the details.
Residents of CHSLDs and RPAs vaccinated by the end of January?
According to the Prime Minister's press briefing , on December 9, 2020, 3 groups will be prioritized in the vaccination against COVID-19: "CHSLDs, employees of the health network and private residences for seniors (RPA)". In total, 55,000 doses should be received by January 4, estimated by Mr. Legault. According to Le Devoir , the first CHSLDs to receive the vaccine will be Maimonides Donald Berman Geriatric Center and the Saint-Antoine CHSLD.
Good news for seniors in residence
Mr. Legault mentions: “We will receive 1.3 million doses by March 31 for 650,000 people. If we are able to have a third of it in January, we should be able to have enough to vaccinate everyone, in CHSLDs, RPAs and health staff. So, if we receive the third in January, that means that, by the end of January, the situation will improve a lot in Quebec. ”. The next few weeks will tell us more about the evolution of the situation.
Once the vaccination campaign is well begun, Quebec will be able to relax the restrictions put in place during the second wave of the pandemic, according to TVA nouvelles information. "I can't wait [...] to reopen the restaurants, the gyms, the theaters, the cinemas", affirms the Prime Minister.
When will the first vaccinations take place in Quebec?
According to Mr. Dubé, Minister of Health and Social Services , in the press briefing of December 9, "the first doses should arrive by December 14". Justin Trudeau confirmed that the first shipment of vaccines had arrived in Canada. A truck with the first doses of the vaccine was also seen on December 14 at the CHSLD Saint-Antoine in Quebec, according to Radio-Canada.
© Justin Trudeau Twitter
© Radio-Canada
The vaccination has started this December 14. Between December 21 and January 4, 57 boxes containing more than 1000 vaccines will be received. Between 22,000 and 28,000 more people can therefore be vaccinated. Mr. Dubé reminds that the vaccine "Moderna will also come soon". This one mentions that it should not be forgotten.
More than 900 people were vaccinated against COVID on December 15
On December 15, according to the Journal de Québec, more than 900 seniors and CHSLD employees were vaccinated against COVID-19 in Quebec and Montreal. Since the start of the vaccination campaign, more than 1,201 people have received the first dose.
How to get access to the COVID vaccine?
In Quebec, the vaccine against COVID-19 will be free for anyone who wants to receive it. The vaccines will be distributed by the Quebec Immunization Program. According to the Government of Quebec , vaccines will be available gradually and some people will be vaccinated before others, according to the ranks below:
Priority groups for COVID vaccine
According to the INSPQ - Center of expertise and reference in public health, here is the prioritization strategy for vaccination against the coronavirus:
Rank 1: Residents in public and private CHSLDs & RI
Rank 2: Healthcare workers (in contact with patients)
Rank 3: Residents in private seniors' residences (RPA)
Rank 4: Residents in remote communities with chronic health problems
Rank 5: People aged 80 and over
Rank 6: People aged 70 to 79
Rank 7: People aged 60 to 69
Rank 8: People under the age of 60 with a risk factor
Rank 9: Essential workers under 60
Rank 10: Remaining of the adult population under 60
Rank 11: Children (age to be determined according to the data to come)
Rank 12: Pregnant women
This comprehensive document from the Quebec Immunization Committee provides explanations on how priority groups were determined.
News feed on the COVID-19 vaccination campaign in residence
December 15, 2020 - more than 900 residents vaccinated against COVID (Pfizer vaccine) in Montreal and Quebec
- According to Journal de Québec, more than 900 seniors and CHSLD employees have been vaccinated against COVID-19 in Quebec and Montreal. Since the start of the vaccination campaign, more than 1,201 people have received the first dose.
December 17, 2020 - number of vaccines administered list by region in Quebec publish by the Government
December 18, 2020 - green light for Moderna vaccine in the United States, Canada is awaiting all data before its authorization
December 20, 2020 - more than 4,716 people have been vaccinated since the beginning of the vaccination campaign
December 21, 2020 - beginning of the vaccinaion in 21 new sites
- According to La Presse, around fifteen regions will receive their first doses of the vaccine during the next week. Here is the list:
- Bas-Saint-Laurent: Rimouski CHSLD
- Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean: CHSLD de la Colline
- Capitale-Nationale: Quebec Mental Health University Institute, Saint-Antoine Accommodation Center (new doses received, the operation is continuing)
- Mauricie: Cloutier multiservice health and social services center
- Center-du-Québec: Drummondville-Sud Community Center
- Estrie: Center de foires de Sherbrooke
- Montreal: CHSLD Saint-Henri, CHSLD Maimonides (new doses received, the operation continues), CHSLD Jeanne Le Ber-IUSM, CHSLD Notre-Dame-de-la-Merci, CHSLD de Hôpital Sainte-Anne
- Outaouais: CHSLD Lionel-Émond
- Abitibi-Témiscamingue: CHSLD Pie-XII
- North Shore: Sept-Îles Hospital
- Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine: CHSLD New Carlisle
- Chaudière-Appalaches: CLSC-CHSLD Paul-Gilbert, Saint-Georges Hospital
- Laval: City-of-Health Hospital
- Lanaudière: Lanaudière Regional Hospital Center (Saint-Charles-Borromée)
- Laurentians: Designated screening clinic (Boisbriand)
- Montérégie: Society of Agriculture of Saint-Hyacinthe, Pavillon la COOP, Quartier Dix30 vaccination clinic
December 23, 2020 - Moderna vaccine authorized by Health Canada
December 30, 2020 - more than 25 315 doses of the vaccine have been administered since the campaign started
January 5, 2021- the CIUSSS de la Capitale-Nationale received 4,000 doses of Moderna's vaccine
January 6, 2021- more than 38,984 doses have been administered to date since the start of the campaign
January 7, 2021 - a vast vaccination campaign in the CHSLDs of the Capitale-Nationale of Québec will allow 100% of residents to obtain the first dose within ten days, according to the Journal de Québec. A private residence for the elderly Jardins du Haut Saint-Laurent would be one of the establishments where residents will receive the dose.
January 25, 2021 - beginning of vaccination campaign in private seniors' residences.
