FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 3, 2021
QUEEN’S PARK — More than 40 per cent of Ontario adults have now received at least one dose of COVID-19.
“Ontario has now administered over five million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine,” said Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Toby Barrett. “Thank you to frontline workers and volunteers for their hard work to get us here.”
Despite an inconsistent vaccine supply to date, the province has continued to build a solid foundation in Ontario’s vaccine rollout, with a focus on age and risk, allowing us to reach our most vulnerable populations and have a measurable impact.
As of April 30, over 5.2 million doses have been administered across the province, starting with the province’s most vulnerable populations, including long-term care residents. Over 91 per cent of Ontarians aged 80 and over have received at least one dose. Over 25,000 first and second doses have been administered in 31 fly-in First Nations communities and Moosonee, and 95 per cent of long-term care residents are now fully vaccinated, providing a layer of protection to those who need it most.
The province has also continued to expand delivery channels, helping to vaccinate more Ontarians faster. Ontario has over 300 primary care settings, 1,400 pharmacy locations, and 189 mass immunization sites supporting its vaccine rollout in addition to mobile and pop-up clinics occurring in hot spot communities, building the capacity for the province to deliver 150,000 doses each day. Ontario has continued to ramp up its rollout, surpassing five million doses administered in eight days since administering the fourth million.
More predictable supply from the federal government also allows us to continue to expand booking eligibility across the province, with individuals aged 18 and older eligible to book through the provincial booking system as early as the week of May 24, 2021. People 50-plus can now book vaccinations this week, 40-plus can book next week, 30-plus is up the week of May 17 and those over 18 are the week of May 24.
A full schedule is available here https://news.ontario.ca/en/backgrounder/1000036/phase-two-schedule-for-covid-19-vaccine-booking-eligibility
Ontario is on track to offer first dose vaccinations to ten million people by the end of June, as long as there is a steady supply of vaccines from the federal government.
On Saturday, Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, and Solicitor General Sylvia Jones issued the following statement:
“Yesterday we have achieved our goal of administering first doses of COVID-19 vaccines to 40 per cent of Ontarians aged 18 and over by May 1. With over 4.8 million people having received their first shot, we are one step closer to defeating COVID-19,” Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, and Solicitor General Sylvia Jones said in a joint following statement issued May 1.
Elliott and Jones also said, “The best vaccine remains the first one you’re offered, and we strongly encourage everyone to book an appointment as soon as it’s their turn. By doing so, we can protect our families, friends and loved ones, and stop the spread of COVID-19.”
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For more information, contact MPP Toby Barrett at 519-428-0446 or toby.barrett@pc.ola.org