Premier Doug Ford is expected to make an announcement Wednesday about booster shots as Ontario looks to ramp up its third-dose vaccination campaign.
Ford's cabinet is set to meet Wednesday morning.
A government source tells CP24 that he will have an announcement the same day about booster shots.
It is believed that Ford will detail the province’s plans to dramatically expand capacity for administering booster shots to Ontarians.
The province started giving out third doses on Nov. 6 to those who are 70 and older, frontline health-care workers, those who previously received two doses of the Astra Zeneca vaccine and First Nations.
On Monday, the province expanded eligibility to include those who are 50 and up.
Provincial officials have said that all Ontarians 18 and over will become eligible on Jan. 4, but there has been some speculation that eligibility for that group could be brought forward amid concerns over the more infectious Omicron variant, which appears to do a better job of getting past two vaccine doses.
Ford spoke with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the other premiers Tuesday night and the topic of booster shots was part of the conversation.
“The Prime Minister and premiers agreed that the key to moving beyond this pandemic is ensuring that as many Canadians as possible, including children, get vaccinated and have access to booster shots, particularly our most vulnerable,” a readout from the meeting said.
On Monday night Ontario Hospital Association President Anthony Dale said hospitals in the province are moving to implement instructions to “urgently” reactivate their mass vaccination programs, even at the cost of other clinical services.
Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore confirmed Tuesday that the province has ordered that vaccinations be made a priority.
“To quickly increase our vaccination rates over the next few weeks, all of our health system partners including primary care, hospital sector, pharmacies, and our public health units are prioritizing the administration of first, second and booster doses as quickly as possible,” Moore said. “Getting your COVID-19 shot is important, but we know that it isn't enough to prevent spread. It is essential that individuals continue to adhere to basic public health measures.”
Dale reiterated in a statement Tuesday that there is no other choice but to prioritize boosters since the province is in a “race against time” with the variant.
“Unfortunately, the healthcare system is anticipating and actively planning for a significant increase in patients with covid related critical illness (CRCI) in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) through December and into January,” Dale said in the statement.
He said that in order to do so, hospitals will use “targeted community-based initiatives utilizing lessons learned from previous waves.”
“To do so will require a large number of health care workers to perform vaccination duties and this will have a major impact on other clinical services,” Dale said. “Mass vaccination is the best way to protect the people of Ontario from the threat posed by Omicron and it will take a strong collaboration among hospitals, primary care, pharmacies, municipalities and the private sector if we are to be successful.”
Health officials have warned that Omicron could be the dominant variant in Ontario by the end of the week. On Tuesday, Moore also said that a province-wide approach could be needed in order to contain the spread of the variant. He said there would be a discussion in the coming days about what steps that might include.
Dr. Allan Grill, Chief of Family Medicine at Markham Stouffville Hospital, told CP24 Tuesday night that people should get a booster as soon as they become eligible.
“I would just recommend, and I told all my patients, when your time comes, please register for the vaccine as quickly as possible,” Grill said.
He said “there's evidence that getting that third dose will protect you both against the Delta variant and Omicron,” and urged people to think of the next dose as the third dose that everyone needs, rather than a booster.
