WELLINGTON COUNTY – Pfizer delivery issues will be worse than anticipated, so public health has paused first-dose COVID-19 vaccinations for workers at long-term care and retirement homes.
“Canada will now receive even fewer doses than was anticipated when delays were announced earlier this month,” states a Jan. 20 release from Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health (WDGPH).
A Feb. 1 delivery of 1,975 Pfizer doses has been cancelled and officials currently do not know when additional vaccines will arrive.
To accommodate “this unexpected gap in vaccine deliveries,” public health will reschedule appointments for long-term care and retirement home staff, which will resume once Pfizer shipments arrive.
“Individuals who have already received the first dose will be provided the second dose at a longer interval that does not exceed the 42-day maximum interval as in the product monograph,” states the release.
“Public health’s priority remains vaccinating long-term care and retirement home residents, staff and essential caregivers and those requiring second dose as soon as possible.”
Officials say shipments of the Moderna vaccine, which are not affected, will continue to be used to vaccinate long-term care and retirement home residents. The health unit has reaffirmed its goal of vaccinating all residents in the region by Jan. 27.
To date, 4,407 people in the WDGPH region have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine
