First round of vaccine doses given at all LTC homes in COVID hot spots: Ford

All residents and workers at long-term care (LTC) homes in the province’s four COVID-19 hot spots — Toronto, Peel Region, York Region and Windsor-Essex — have now received their first doses of the vaccine, the province confirmed on Tuesday.

“This is the first of many victories to come against this deadly and ruthless enemy we face,” Premier Doug Ford said. “We are making steady progress, but we will not rest until the residents and staff of every long-term care home and all Ontarians have had the opportunity to get a vaccine.”

The province says the first round of doses have also been administered at all LTC homes in Ottawa, Durham Region and Simcoe Muskoka.

In total, the province says more than 83,000 LTC residents and staff have been vaccinated so far.

The province hopes to administer the vaccine at all LTC homes across Ontario by February 15, but a vaccine shortage and a snag in Pfizer’s delivery could derail that timeline.

More than half of all COVID-19 deaths in Ontario have been people living in LTC, and 254 LTC homes are currently fighting outbreaks.

The province has faced criticism over its handling of the situation, but Ford put the onus on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to assure Ontario receives an appropriate number of vaccine doses.

“It’s easy to point fingers … this is about being team Canada,” Ford said. “We are doing everything we can to make sure all long-term care residents and workers will be vaccinated.

“We are doing everything we can, I’ll focus on long-term care, Prime Minister you focus on getting the vaccines.”

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