The pending arrival of a second and subsequent vaccines is expected to increase the distribution opportunities, allowing it to be brought to those living in long-term care and other facilities.
But for the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit it means stretching already thinning resources until area doctors, pharmacists and others become part of the network to vaccinate as many people against COVID-19 as soon as possible.
“It’s a complex matter having more than one type of vaccine and they’re technically different in how they’re handled,” said local medical officer of health Dr. Charles Gardner during Tuesday's media briefing. “We are challenged, once again, in working out the best way to deal with the one vaccine they’ve got (with) the other one to come at some point.”
The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is being administered in one location locally because it is difficult to move and requires freezing to keep it at minus-70 Celsius until it’s diluted. Moving it to different locations would require changing how it’s handled, Gardner said.
Meanwhile, a large number of health unit’s staff has been reallocated to the vaccine program, meaning there are fewer people available for other roles.
As a result, the health unit’s ability to trace the contacts of those who have tested positive with COVID-19 has been declining.
Gardner reported that the ability to reach contacts within 24 hours has dropped to 26.5 per cent from 57 per cent two weeks back. That’s attributed to both the large volume of infections and the reallocation of staff.
Gardner said there will be even more demands on the health unit and its staff in the drive to get vaccines out to more people.
“We’ve got COVID vaccination within one program, but we’ve got some degree of specialization with those who work at the clinic and administer the vaccine versus another group we’re getting ready to be liaisons to connect with the facilities and help transport the vaccine and technical support for the vaccine to be given," he said.
“We do need the same management oversight with people who’ve got a deep knowledge of how you do vaccination campaigns in those different settings and the deep knowledge of the vaccines themselves," Gardner added.
Locally, doctors have indicated their interest to help inoculate people when the Moderna vaccine and others arrive to this area.
“We’re absolutely available and we’re just waiting to hear,” said Dr. Rebecca Van Iersel, a family physician in Orillia. “We’re just waiting to find out what that broader rollout is and are eager to be part of that.”
Van Iersel said doctors’ offices already administer children’s vaccines and boosters and are set up to help in the current situation.
Many other area doctors have indicated they’re ready to help when they’re needed, said Gardner.
“I don’t know how we could do it without them,” said Gardner, adding he foresees emergency medical services and community pharmacies also becoming part of a wide distribution network to reach many people efficiently. “I’m getting practitioners coming to me now asking to be part of it.”
He points to the experience with the H1N1 influenza vaccination during the 2009 pandemic, which involved a community-wide approach.
While the circumstances and vaccine were different than the COVID-19 pandemic, Gardner said H1N1 vaccines were administered at several locations, but the majority of the vaccines were given by family physicians and other partners.
“There are so many more of them and there are so many more locations,” he said. “Absolutely, this time around we will need primary care physicians.”
Gardner pointed out that a larger distribution system will have to be built, requiring planning and engagement with those involved.
