COVID-19 vaccination in Ontario

COVID-19 vaccination in Ontario began in December 2020, when the first doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine were administered.[1] In February 2021, shipments for both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines increased significantly. By May 2021, over 50 percent of Ontarians had received their first dose.[2] By the beginning of 2022, over 80 percent of Ontarians had received their first dose.

Timeline of rollout

Early rollout

On December 9, 2020, Health Canada approved the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccines were distributed amongst the provinces by the Federal government.[3] Ontario received an initial delivery of 6,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine[4] of a total of 90,000 doses to be received before the end of 2020.[5] On December 14, 2020, the first vaccination was delivered in Ontario in Toronto, kicking off a vaccination rollout.[1]

Vaccinations began on December 14, 2020, in a pilot program to vaccinate health-care workers working in long-term care (LTC) homes and later expanded to front-line health-care workers. Ontario's vaccination task force later announced their plan to inoculate all long-term care home residents and staff in Toronto, Peel, York and Windsor-Essex with a goal date of January 21, 2021.[6] The government expanded this to all long-term care home residents in the province by February 15, 2021.[7]

On December 23, 2020, Health Canada approved the mRNA-1273 COVID-19 vaccine developed by Moderna.[8] The first tranche of vaccines of a total 53,000 designated for Ontario by the end of 2020 arrived at Toronto Pearson International Airport on December 24.[9][10][11]

Over the Christmas and holiday season, many vaccination clinics were paused.[12] The Ontario government has been criticized for this delay, the government officially responded that the cessation was due to staff shortages.[12][13][14] Rick Hillier, in charge of the Ontario vaccine task-force later apologized, calling the cessation a "mistake".[15] On December 29, 2020, he added that the task-force was looking into applying single doses of the Moderna vaccine in order to inoculate even more people more efficiently.[15]

On January 15, 2021, it was announced all LTC homes in Toronto had been vaccinated.[16] On January 19, 2021, the provincial government announced all LTC residents and staff in hot zones had received at least their first dose.[17] By February 14, 2021, the province announced it had completed at least first-dose vaccinations in all long-term care homes in Ontario.[18]

Manufacturing delays

Due to manufacturing delays with Pfizer (aimed at retooling to expedite vaccine production), Ontario received a significant decline in vaccine delivery between late January and early February. On January 29, 2021, another delay was announced with Moderna, who announced that a 20–25 percent cut in product would be delivered to Canada for the month of February.[19]

On January 28, 2021, the Ontario government announced a major miscalculation in the number of reported fully vaccinated people, over-reporting the number of fully vaccinated individuals.[20]

Regular shipments and approval of new vaccines

By late February 2021, shipments for both Pfizer and Moderna increased significantly.[21] On February 26, 2021, the Oxford–AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine was approved for use by Health Canada[22] and on March 5, 2021, the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine was approved for use by Health Canada.[17] Johnson & Johnson only requires one shot for administration.[17]

Shipments of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine arrived in the province on March 3, 2021. The government announced the creation of a pilot programme for administration through Ontario pharmacies to begin March 9, 2021.[23] The vaccines would originally only be used on those between the ages of 60 and 64 due to a lack of study on the vaccine's efficacy on adults over 65 years of age.[23] The pilot will take place in 380 pharmacies in Toronto, Kingston and Windsor-Essex.[23] The first shot of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine was given March 10, 2021, in Toronto.[24] Registration began in the three regions at Shoppers Drug Mart, Rexall and Costco pharmacies.[25] The province announced another pilot programme involving family doctors administering the vaccine beginning March 13, 2021, in six regions: Hamilton, Toronto, Wellington-Dufferin Guelph, Peterborough, Simcoe-Muskoka and Peel Region.[26]

On March 22, 2021, it was announced restaurant workers (mostly young individuals) would be prioritized in Phase 2 of the provincial vaccine rollout.[27]

In anticipation for moving into Phase 2 of the vaccine rollout in the province, vaccination appointments for older citizens in late March 2021 were hard to fill,[28] partly due to both vaccine hesitancy[29] and the online spread of misinformation by older populations.[30] This misinformation was exacerbated by NACI's opinion reversal on the safety of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine and its potential side-effects of blood clots in post-vaccination embolic and thrombotic events.[31] Due to recommendations from NACI, on March 29, 2021, Ontario later restricted use of AstraZeneca to those adults aged 55 years and older.[32]

Transition to Phase 2

Following the departure of General Rick Hillier as the chair of the vaccine task-force on March 31, 2021, he was replaced by Doctor Homer Tien (head of Ornge and a trauma surgeon).[33]

With a steady influx of vaccine shipments, the province began to open up eligibility, especially in the Greater Toronto Area.[34] Ontario officially moved to "Phase 2" of its vaccine rollout strategy on April 6, 2021. The first of these province-wide announcements included vaccinating adults with high-risk health conditions.[35]

Following a sharp rise in new cases, exacerbated by COVID-19 variants, the province shifted focus to hotspot regions, particularly focused in Peel Region and Toronto, opening up eligibility to all adults aged 18 and older in certain postal codes.[36][37]

In April, the Ford government was criticized by the opposition for leaving out much higher-risk neighbourhoods through the choice of postal codes within the 114 forward sortation areas for prioritization of vaccination for those 18 years of age and older. The government responded saying it was an unnecessary politicization of the issue and that the postal codes were chosen from a study done by the Ontario Science Advisory Table.[38] The Advisory Table responded by saying they had chosen the postal codes to study, but did not recommend to the Progressive Conservative government that they prioritize those postal codes. Instead, they had recommended targeting age groups in specific hotspot neighbourhoods, using the postal codes as a metric to measure COVID-19 statistics.[39]

Lowering of age limits and vaccine ramp-up

Following the lowering of the age of 55 to 40 on April 20, 2021, for access to the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, Ontario began to achieve vaccination number milestones. On April 21, 2021, Ontario recorded 136,695 doses administered the previous day.[40] The shots were not being taken by the older population due to a combination of vaccine hesitancy and a preference for the two mRNA vaccine brands, which has been called "vaccine shopping".[41] Vaccine Hunters Canada has been credited with the rapid uptake of the vaccine in Ontario among members of Generation X.[42]

On April 22, 2021, pregnant women were added to Phase 2's "highest risk" category for vaccine eligibility in Ontario after advocacy from Ontario OBGYNs and other medical professionals.[43]

The Ontario government announced in late April new accelerated changes to the vaccine rollout due to increased supply. Ontario now plans to open first-dose vaccine appointments to all Ontario adults aged 18 and older province-wide starting May 18, 2021, one week ahead of the original target for the week of May 25.[44][45][46]

On May 5, 2021, Health Canada announced the approval of the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for use in individuals ages 12 and older, previously they were only authorized for individuals ages 16 and older.[47] In response to this, Ontario began offering the vaccine to this younger age group in several Ontario hotspots such as Toronto as of May 18, 2021, along with the entirety of Peel Region as of May 20 and plans to open up vaccine appointments for those aged 12 and older province-wide effective May 23, 2021.[48][49][50][51]

Passing 50 percent vaccination rate and second dose strategy

In May 2021, 50 percent of Ontarians had received their first dose of a vaccine.[2]

On May 28, 2021, the provincial government released their plans for shortened intervals for second doses, beginning with those aged 80 and older, moving to those between the ages of 70 and 79 and moving on first-dose date-based system using a first in, first out principle.[52] The shortest intervals could be shortened from 16 weeks to 28 days.[52]

On June 7, 2021, Ontarians aged 70 years and older and those who received their first dose of an mRNA vaccine became eligible to book a second dose.[53]

Second dose strategy and continuation of efforts

By July 2021, most Ontarians are able to return to a manufacturer-recommended dose interval (21 days between shots of Pfizer-BioNTech, 28 days between shots of Moderna).[54]

Following a slowdown of Pfizer-BioNtech deliveries in late June,[55] mixing of the two mRNA vaccines had become commonplace depending on supply, and receiving an mRNA vaccine if one had received the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine has their first had become common place, with an interval being reduced from 12 weeks between shots to 8.[56] Some vaccine hesitancy occurred about the mixing of vaccine brands.

On August 17, 2021, Chief Medical Officer of Health Kieran Moore issued Directive 6 under the Health Protection and Promotion Act, requiring hospitals and healthcare facilities to develop a policy around COVID-19 vaccination effective September 7, 2021.[57]

In late September 2021, Public Health Ontario adjusted its guidance to suggest youth aged 18-24 receive the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine instead of the Moderna product due to elevated risk of myocarditis. However, individuals in that group could still receive the Moderna shot so long as they gave "informed consent."[58]

Third dose and further continuation of efforts

Amid the rapid rise in cases from the Omicron variant, the Ontario government announced that Ontarians can receive a third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine as a booster shot beginning in December 2021.[citation needed]

On March 1, 2022, proof of vaccination is no longer mandatory as the number of active cases dropped, though the government began offering a fourth dose of a COVID-19 vaccine as a second booster shot. As of March 14, 2022, Directive 6 was no longer in effect for hospitals and healthcare facilities.[59] On March 19, 2022, Vaccine Hunters Canada closed its own operations exactly one year after its establishment as over 80 percent of the national population eligible for vaccination has been vaccinated and thus served its purpose of encouraging as many people as possible to be vaccinated.[60]

Vaccine progress

Total number of people receiving vaccinations in Ontario as of October 25, 2021

  Unvaccinated population: 3,369,094 people (22.72%)
  Population that has received one dose of a vaccine: 519,477 people (3.5%)
  Population that has been fully vaccinated (two doses): 10,937,705 people (73.77%)
Ontario vaccination rollout # Ref
Doses allocated to Ontario by the Canadian government 25,775,971 [61][62]
Doses administered in Ontario 23,913,372 [63]
Ontarians fully vaccinated (administered two doses) 11,288,025 [63]
Ontarians that have received at least one dose 11,827,387 [63]
Percentage of the provincial population who have received at least one dose 77.28% [63]

Data as of December 4, 2021; does not include booster shots

Phases for vaccine rollout

Phase Projected dates Details Second doses
1 December 14, 2020 – April 6, 2021[35] Phase 1

The following people were prioritized in this phase:

  • Long-term care home and retirement home residents.
  • Healthcare workers and essential caregivers who work in long-term care homes, retirement homes and other congregate settings caring for seniors.
  • High-priority healthcare workers
  • First Nation communities and urban Indigenous populations, including Métis and Inuit adults.
  • Adults 80 years of age and older
  • Staff, residents and caregivers in retirement homes and other congregate care settings for seniors
  • Adult recipients of chronic home care
 Before a slowdown in supply and the adoption of a 16-week interval, the following priority populations received second doses approximately on the same interval as manufacturer recommendations:[64]
  • Long-term care home and retirement home residents
  • Some LTC home workers
  • Some health care workers and essential caregivers
  • High-priority healthcare workers
  • First Nation communities
2 April 6, 2021[35] – June 2021 Phase 2

According to a new accelerated timeline introduced on April 29, the following Ontarians will be prioritized for first-dose vaccination in this order:[44]

  • People with highest-risk health conditions and their caregivers

April 27:

  • People aged 45+ in hot spots

April 29:

  • Licensed child care workers

April 30:

  • People aged 55+ province-wide

May 3:

  • People aged 18+ living in hot spots

May 6:

  • People aged 50+ province-wide
  • People with high-risk health conditions province-wide
  • All adults 18+ who reside in Peel Region (including Brampton, Mississauga and Caledon)[65]
  • Group 1 of people who cannot remote work
  • this includes teachers and school staff, first responders, childcare workers, food manufacturing workers and agriculture and farm workers[66]

May 11:[67]

  • People with at-risk health conditions
  • Group 2 of people who cannot remote work
  • this includes people working in grocery and pharmacies, manufacturing, social work, correctional facilities, retail, supply chain, public works, financial services, waste management, restaurant workers and the energy sector[66]

May 13:

  • People aged 40+ province-wide

May 18:

  • All adults aged 18+ province-wide[45]

May 23:

In the beginning of Phase 2, the following highest-risk health conditions were allowed to receive a shortened-interval second dose:[70]
  • People with malignant hematologic disorder receiving active treatment (specifically chemotherapy, targeted therapies of immunotherapy)
  • People with non-hematologic malignant solid tumour receiving active treatment (specifically chemotherapy, targeted therapies of immunotherapy)
  • Transplant recipients

On May 10, 2021, certain high-risk healthcare workers were allowed to receive a second dose at a shortened interval[71]

According to a shortened interval second-dose strategy announced May 28, 2021[72] for those who received the two approved mRNA vaccines (originally scheduled for 16 weeks), the government announced the following second-dose prioritization in this order:[68]

May 31:

  • People aged 80+ province-wide can book a second-dose appointment

June 7:[73][74]

  • People aged 70+ province-wide can book a second-dose appointment
  • People who received their first dose on or before April 18, 2021, can book a second-dose appointment

June 14:[75]

  • Adults age 18+ living in Toronto, Peel Region, Halton, York Region, Waterloo, Wellington–Dufferin–Guelph, and Porcupine who received their first dose on or before May 9 can book a second-dose appointment

June 21:

  • Adults age 18+ who received their first dose on or before May 9 province-wide can book a second-dose appointment

June 23:

  • Adults age 18+ living in Durham, Halton, Hamilton, Peel, Porcupine, Simcoe-Muskoka, Toronto, Waterloo, Wellington–Dufferin–Guelph or York who received their first dose on or before May 30 can book a second-dose appointment

June 26:

  • Youth aged 12–17 living in Durham, Halton, Hamilton, Peel, Porcupine, Simcoe-Muskoka, Toronto, Waterloo, Wellington–Dufferin–Guelph and York

June 28:

  • All remaining adults can book a second shot with a 28-day interval

People who received the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine can book a second shot of either Oxford-AstraZeneca or an mRNA vaccine at an interval of 8 weeks.

3 July 2021[35] Phase 3

All remaining eligible Ontarians

Former vaccine task force members

On August 31, 2021, the vaccine task force was dismissed.[76]

Resigned

  • Linda Hasenfratz, CEO of Linamar, resigned due to her travel outside of the country in December 2020[78]
  • General (retired) Rick Hillier, former chief of Defence Staff for the Canadian Forces (chair), stepped away from role following the end of his contract on March 31, 2021[79]
  • Dr. Kieran Moore, Former Medical Officer of Health, Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington Public Health stepped away from the role to become chief medical officer of Health for Ontario[citation needed]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Canada's 1st COVID-19 vaccinations administered, kicking off massive campaign". Global News.
  2. ^ a b "Ontario's daily COVID-19 cases follow downward trend with 2,320 new infections". dailyhive.com.
  3. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on January 14, 2021. Retrieved December 27, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. ^ "Today's coronavirus news: Canada's first Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in Toronto, Quebec City; Ontario is reporting 1,940 new cases; Alberta records new one-day high with 1,887 cases". thestar.com. December 14, 2020.
  5. ^ "UPS Canada releases 'first images' of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine being prepared for delivery". Toronto. December 12, 2020.
  6. ^ "All LTC residents, staff in Toronto, Peel, York and Windsor-Essex set to receive COVID-19 vaccine by Jan. 21". CP24. January 5, 2021.
  7. ^ "Ontario government sets goal to vaccinate all long-term care residents and staff by Feb. 15". January 13, 2021. Archived from the original on January 14, 2021. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  8. ^ "Health Canada approves 'game-changer' Moderna COVID-19 vaccine". Coronavirus. December 23, 2020.
  9. ^ Jeffords, Shawn (December 23, 2020). "Ontario to receive 53,000 Moderna COVID-19 vaccine doses by end of December". CP24.
  10. ^ "First Moderna vaccine doses arrive in Canada". Coronavirus. December 24, 2020.
  11. ^ "COVID-19: Moderna vaccine approved, Ontario to get 53,000 doses by end of year; province sees 2,408 new cases". ottawacitizen.
  12. ^ a b "COVID-19 vaccinations cut back over holidays due to staff shortages, Ontario government says". Global News.
  13. ^ "Critics slam Ontario government over holiday vaccination slowdown". Toronto. December 28, 2020.
  14. ^ "COVID-19 vaccine over holidays on 'amended schedules' as province stops reserving second doses". ottawacitizen.
  15. ^ a b "Ontario's COVID-19 task force head asks Health Canada to 'look into' single-dose Moderna vaccine". CBC. December 30, 2020.
  16. ^ "Vaccinations have now been conducted at all Toronto long-term care homes". CP24. January 15, 2021.
  17. ^ a b c "A plan to safely reopen Ontario and manage COVID-19 for the long-term". COVID-19 (coronavirus) in Ontario.
  18. ^ "Ontario to start vaccinating residents over 80 by mid-March". February 24, 2021.
  19. ^ John Paul Tasker (January 29, 2021). "Moderna to cut deliveries to Canada in new blow to vaccination campaign". CBC.
  20. ^ "Canada could be short 500K vaccine doses from Pfizer by end of March: Ont. health minister". CP24. January 28, 2021.
  21. ^ "Canada to receive over 640,000 vaccine doses from Pfizer, Moderna this week". Global News.
  22. ^ John Paul Tasker (Feb 26, 2021). "Health Canada approves AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine". CBC News.
  23. ^ a b c "COVID-19 vaccine pilot at some Ontario pharmacies to begin next week with Oxford-AstraZeneca". Global News.
  24. ^ "Shoppers Drug Mart marks historic COVID-19 milestone with first vaccine in pharmacy in Ontario". www.newswire.ca.
  25. ^ "Ontario to begin AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccination appointments at more than 300 pharmacies starting Friday". Toronto. March 9, 2021.
  26. ^ "Ontario unveils details of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine pharmacy pilot". CBC News. March 10, 2021.
  27. ^ "Ontario restaurant workers will get COVID-19 vaccine in Phase 2, officials now confirm". Toronto. March 22, 2021.
  28. ^ Mike Crawley (March 23, 2021). "Nearly 200,000 Ontarians aged 80 and older have not signed up for a COVID-19 vaccination". CBC News.
  29. ^ "Ontario is studying COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy levels as rollout continues: Elliott". Global News.
  30. ^ "Older Ontarians most involved in spreading COVID-19 misinformation online: study". Toronto. March 31, 2021.
  31. ^ Adam Miller (March 30, 2021). "Why Canada is suspending use of AstraZeneca vaccine in people under 55". CBC News.
  32. ^ "Ontario suspending use of AstraZeneca vaccine for people under 55 following NACI recommendations". CBC News. March 29, 2021.
  33. ^ Muriel Draaisma; Derick Deonarain (April 5, 2021). "Dr. Homer Tien, Ornge Air Ambulance CEO, to lead Ontario's COVID-19 vaccine distribution task force". CBC News.
  34. ^ "Ontario sees 3,295 new COVID-19 cases, record-high vaccinations as stay-at-home order kicks in". CBC News. April 8, 2021.
  35. ^ a b c d "Salle de presse de l'Ontario". Ontario Newsroom.
  36. ^ "Full list of Ontario neighbourhoods where the COVID-19 vaccine will be available to those 18+". CTV News Toronto. April 8, 2021. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
  37. ^ "Ontario opens vaccination up to people over 18 in hotspot neighbourhoods in Brampton and Mississauga". www.insauga.com. April 7, 2021.
  38. ^ "Ontario's science table says analysis not meant to determine hot spot postal codes in vaccine rollout". CP24. April 15, 2021.
  39. ^ "COVID-19 science advisory table says it did not select hot spot postal codes". Ottawa Citizen. April 15, 2021. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
  40. ^ "Ontario hits new daily vaccination record as AstraZeneca goes 'flying off shelves'". Toronto. April 21, 2021.
  41. ^ "Ontario hits new daily vaccination record of 136K+ as AstraZeneca goes 'flying off shelves' with lower age threshold". CP24. April 21, 2021.
  42. ^ Matthew Kupfer (April 20, 2021). "Vaccination slots fill up fast as eligibility lowered to 40". CBC News.
  43. ^ "Pregnant women can now book COVID vaccine appointments". BayToday.ca. 23 April 2021.
  44. ^ a b Kate Porter (April 30, 2021). "Vaccine team 'ready to go' as province ramps up immunization efforts". CBC News.
  45. ^ a b "Ontario expands COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to those 18+ a week ahead of schedule". CP24. May 17, 2021.
  46. ^ "Ontario Newsroom". news.ontario.ca.
  47. ^ Aiello, Rachel (May 5, 2021). "Children 12 and older now cleared to receive Pfizer vaccine: Health Canada". CTV News. Retrieved May 7, 2021.
  48. ^ "COVID-19: Pfizer vaccine available to Ontarians aged 12 to 17 beginning May 31". Global News.
  49. ^ "Where to find a COVID-19 vaccine clinic in Toronto today". CP24. May 17, 2021.
  50. ^ "'Welcome news:' Peel Region opens vaccinations to children as young as 12, Toronto plans to follow suit". CP24. 2021-05-19.
  51. ^ "COVID-19 Vaccine Booking Expanding to Youth 12+ Ahead of Schedule". news.ontario.ca.
  52. ^ a b "Ontario shortens gap between COVID-19 vaccine doses with majority of residents fully vaccinated by end of summer". Toronto. May 28, 2021.
  53. ^ "COVID-19: More Ontarians can book 2nd vaccine shot through provincial system". Global News.
  54. ^ COVID-19 Vaccine Guidance Ministry of Health
  55. ^ "Some cancelling appointments at mass immunization sites due to Pfizer delay: HKPR Health Unit - Peterborough". Global News.
  56. ^ Nicole Williams. (June 22, 2021). Eastern Ontario health units prepare for hesitancy to vaccine mixing CBC News.
  57. ^ "Ontario Makes COVID-19 Vaccination Policies Mandatory for High-Risk Settings". Ontario Newsroom. August 17, 2021. Archived from the original on August 17, 2021.
  58. ^ Casaletto, Lucas (September 29, 2021). "Ontario now recommending Pfizer over Moderna vaccine for young adults". CityNews Toronto. Archived from the original on July 16, 2022. Retrieved 2024-06-13.
  59. ^ Gooding, Amber (March 14, 2022). "Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccine Policy". Home and Community Care Support Services. Archived from the original on June 13, 2024.
  60. ^ "1 year after launch, Vaccine Hunters Canada says it is closing operations | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Retrieved 2022-03-21.
  61. ^ Public Health Agency of Canada (December 3, 2020). "Vaccines and treatments for COVID-19: Vaccine rollout". aem. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  62. ^ "COVID-19 Tracker Canada - Vaccination Tracker". covid19tracker.ca.
  63. ^ a b c d "COVID-19 vaccines for Ontario". COVID-19 (coronavirus) in Ontario.
  64. ^ COVID-19 Vaccination Update. Technical Briefing
  65. ^ "'We have been on fire:' all adults in Peel Region eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine as of tomorrow". CP24. 2021-05-05.
  66. ^ a b "This is the list of people eligible for COVID-19 vaccines in Phase 2". CP24. March 5, 2021.
  67. ^ "Ontario Continues to Expand Booking Eligibility for COVID-19 Vaccines to More Ontarians". news.ontario.ca (Press release).
  68. ^ a b "Ontario's COVID-19 vaccination plan". COVID-19 (coronavirus) in Ontario.
  69. ^ "Ontario to expand vaccine eligibility to children as young as 12". CP24. May 21, 2021.
  70. ^ "Highest-risk individuals with health conditions and an essential caregiver can book a COVID-19 vaccine appointment". www.niagararegion.ca.
  71. ^ "Ontario Newsroom". news.ontario.ca.
  72. ^ Ontario, Tyler Collins, Province of (May 28, 2021). "Ontario will "speed up" eligibility for 2nd COVID-19 vaccine doses". Oakville News.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  73. ^ "Ontario moves up second dose rebooking for those 70+ and anyone who had a shot by Apr.18". CP24. June 4, 2021.
  74. ^ Davidson, Sean (June 4, 2021). "Here's who can book their second vaccine dose this week". Toronto.
  75. ^ "Ontario second doses | Delta variant hotspots see accelerated timeline - 680 NEWS". 680 News. June 10, 2021.
  76. ^ "Ontario Newsroom". news.ontario.ca.
  77. ^ "COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Task Force - Public Appointments Secretariat". www.pas.gov.on.ca.
  78. ^ "Auto executive off Ontario's vaccine task force following revelation she travelled out of country". CP24. January 19, 2021. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  79. ^ "Retired general Rick Hillier leaving role as head of Ontario vaccine task force, Ford says". Global News.