With approval from Health Canada for the Pfizer vaccine squared away, the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance is getting its own ducks in a row.
CEO Lori Marshall says while local distribution plans remain a work in progress, the hospital is getting ready.
“We have ordered a freezer (that can) go down to -85 degrees in order to effectively store the vaccine,” Marshall says, noting the freezer is the same model recently purchased by Windsor Regional Hospital. “We’re continuing to talk amongst all the hospitals (in the region) just to make sure that whatever’s coming, we’re able to prepare in a way that’s consistent.”
Marshall admits administering the vaccine locally will be a big logistical challenge, and they’re not sure yet whether the vaccine will be administered through the hospital, public health, or another option.
“We’re trying to, at this stage, just make sure that we’re prepared depending on which way the government goes with this.”
The first batch of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is expected to start arriving within days, but is said to be primarily for priority groups such as long term care residents and front-line workers.
Vaccinations for the general public are expected to begin around April, and federal health officials believe there will be enough vaccines to safely treat most residents across the country by September.