You know already that the COVID-19 Response Framework was paused during Ontario’s province-wide shutdown; on February 16, 2021, Burlington returned to the COVID-19 Response Framework Red-Control zone. Ontario has identified the following key risk factors for potential transmission of COVID-19:

  • Close contact (the highest risk)
  • Enclosed spaces
  • Crowded places
  • Forceful exhalation

Joseph Brant Hospital’s website indicates that they are “currently caring for 6 confirmed cases of COVID-19.”

According to Halton Region’s data posted online, Burlington currently has 43 active COVID-19 cases. Ten of these are variant cases (two confirmed and eight screened positive). Up to and including February 25, 28,662 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in Halton region. We are still in Phase I of the provincial plan.

Jane McKenna, MPP Burlington, has a COVID-19 vaccine notification alert option on her webpage. You can sign up for email and text notifications to receive notice of when you’re eligible to receive the vaccine. “When the time comes, we’ll send you an email and text with a link to book your COVID-19 immunization appointment.” You’ll need to provide your name, postal code, email, age group and communication preferences. You can also provide your mobile number.

I’m not sure about your experience during this phase, but I imagine we are alike in that we are trying to stay up-to-date and follow all of the requirements shared by all of the levels of government. Local-news.ca is sharing monthly update articles on COVID-19, primarily because we are all inundated everywhere with information — accurate, embellished, or contrary to facts. We aim for balanced reporting and hope to encourage positive steps forward.

In my life, information about the availability of vaccines has been a challenge. I have many Canadian friends who went to Florida or other U.S. states against the Canadian government recommendations to remain at home (the Canada-U.S. border is currently “closed” until March 21, 2021). Any of those friends who are over 65 years of age have already received their first dose of the vaccine in the U.S., and many their second. With an 86-year-old mother and a 99-year-old mother-in-law, both living in Ontario, we want to know what the process is to ensure that they are vaccinated in a timely way. Our general practitioner’s office was not able to provide any useful information and after a frustrating experience with the flu vaccine through that office, we started looking for information elsewhere.

My uncle in Guelph received his vaccination on Feb. 26. He is part of the Phase II cohort: not living in long term care, over 80 years of age. So, when Jane McKenna says “sign up for the vaccine notification,” we do. Thank you. I know that it doesn’t likely change the timeline of actually getting the vaccine, but does it ever feel like I’m accomplishing something useful. Without an advocate, or someone capable of technology, how does an over-80-year-old (not in long term care) navigate this? A friend has solved this dilemma by finding a doctor in Mississauga who has provided information to them.

We understand that supply is limited and rollout is dependent on availability. We understand that everyone is working hard and doing the best that they can in unprecedented times. We understand that Ontarians are very well cared for and enjoy a standard of living and health care that most do not. And we understand that technology needs to be used to deal with our gathering restrictions.

My request to those in charge of vaccinating our population: please spend more time communicating with us about when and how each age group will sign up for, book, and receive their first and second vaccinations. We have heard — enough? — about all the rules. We are doing our best to follow them. We are in a new “need to know” timeframe. Help us stay calm. When there isn’t new information, tell us when we can expect some. Many of us are busy caring for loved ones at home. There has been lots of promotion over the years about “aging in place.” This is an especially important time that you can provide information and support to back up that priority.  

Sources:

Government of Ontario, 2021. COVID-19 Response Framework. Url: https://www.ontario.ca/page/covid-19-response-framework-keeping-ontario-safe-and-open#control (accessed Feb. 27, 2021).

Halton Region, 2021. Status of COVID-19 Cases in Halton. Url: https://www.halton.ca/For-Residents/Immunizations-Preventable-Disease/Diseases-Infections/New-Coronavirus/Status-of-COVID-19-Cases-in-Halton (accessed Feb. 27, 2021).

Jane McKenna, MPP, n.d. COVID-19 Vaccination Notification Alert. Url: https://www.janemckennampp.ca/vaccine-notification (accessed Feb. 27, 2021).

Joseph Brant Hospital, 2021. COVID-19. Url: https://www.josephbranthospital.ca/en/quality-and-performance/covid-19.asp (accessed Feb. 27, 2021).