Ontario COVID-19 Distribution Task Force to Dissolve at the end of the Month

Friday, 27 August 2021 14:54

The Premier and Opposition leader are commending the work done by the COVID-19 Distribution Task Force.

The Ontario COVID-19 Distribution Task Force will dissolve on August 31.

Over 75 percent of eligible Ontarians are now fully vaccinated. The mandate for the task force ends on the 31st and it will not be extended. Working with the Chief Medical Officer of Health and local public health units, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of the Solicitor General will continue to administer the province’s vaccine program.

Premier Doug Ford says the Task Force did an exceptional job.

“On behalf of our province, I would like to extend my deepest appreciation to the Ontario COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Task Force and its members. We are grateful for your work, expertise and contribution to the success of our province’s COVID-19 vaccination campaign, the largest in Ontario’s history. Your leadership has been instrumental in spearheading our collective vaccination efforts, and you leave the province well-positioned for the future. I have every confidence in the Chief Medical Officer of Health and our officials as we continue to make every effort to get as many people vaccinated as possible.”

Opposition leader Andrea Horwath also wanted to congratulate the Task Force for a job well done.

“I wish to thank Ontario’s COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Task Force for its hard work these last several months getting shots into as many arms as possible to protect the people of this province. While a great many people have done their part and rolled up their sleeves, it’s extremely concerning that Doug Ford seems to think his job is done and is just crossing his fingers and hoping for the best as we face a fourth wave. We need to increase vaccine uptake, and we can do that by breaking down barriers, creating vaccine certificates, and mandating vaccinations for health care and education workers.”

Some of the Task Force accomplishments include:

- Developing guiding principles and prioritization to distribute initial doses to the most vulnerable as well as an ethical framework for subsequent vaccine distribution;

- Facilitating the administration of a first dose to over 80 per cent of eligible Ontarians aged 12+ and full vaccination of over 75 per cent of eligible Ontarians;

- Successfully operationalizing first and second doses across northern remote Indigenous communities, long-term care homes and senior homes;

- Working with Public Health Units to identify communities of greatest need and making it easier and more convenient for individuals to get vaccinated through multiple targeted strategies, including community-based and employer-led clinics, mobile clinics such as the GO-VAXX buses and deploying health and human resources to support these delivery channels;

- Providing the technical and logistical expertise to ensure vaccines were stored and transported securely to communities across the province and that vaccine distribution processes were seamless and effective.