Your questions about Ontario’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout plan, answered

On March 4, 2021, the University of Toronto announced their plan to hold in-person classes in the fall, leaving many students wondering whether they will get their COVID vaccines in time for September to keep them safe.

The Strand has prepared a quick breakdown of Ontario’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout to help answer any questions you might have.

When will I get the jab?

The Government of Ontario plans to vaccinate the population in three phases. Phase one is reserved for the most high-risk populations: frontline healthcare workers; seniors in long-term care homes; First Nations, Inuit, and Métis adults; and people over 80 years old. 

The Government contends that evidence has shown that vaccinating older people first, while adjusting for some risk factors (e.g. First Nations communities are especially vulnerable to COVID-19), decreases death and hospitalization rates.

As of March 6, the Government is preparing to move into Phase two, which is scheduled to end in July. At this stage, people aged 60 to 79; who live in congregate settings such as shelters or group homes; have high-risk health conditions or care for someone who has one; some frontline essential workers; and residents of particularly affected areas will get their first shot.

Following the approval of the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine, the Ontario Government plans to accelerate Phase two, with all adults over 60 now being able to expect their first shot by early June. Essential workers could start getting inoculated around that time as well.

On Friday, March 5, retired General Rick Hillier, the head of Ontario’s vaccination task force, said, “Our aim would be to allow the province of Ontario to have the first needle in the arm of every eligible person who wants it by the first day of the summer.” However, this goal hinges upon adequate vaccine supply, and further elaboration is required.  

If the rest of the population is going ahead as scheduled to be vaccinated during Phase three in August, it is not yet concrete whether everyone will be inoculated in time for fall in-person classes.

What about the variants?

There is still not enough evidence to make definitive conclusions about whether the currently authorized vaccines work against the new variants, although it seems like they do—albeit not as well.

For instance, the P.1 variant, which first emerged in Brazil, appears to be dodging antibodies more easily, but a recent Oxford study found that the AstraZeneca vaccine is still somewhat effective against it.

In any case, vaccines might be tweaked to match the new variants—this is why we get a new flu shot every year.

So, which vaccine should I get?

All of the vaccines authorized by the Government of Canada are safe and effective, as they are likely to prevent serious cases of COVID-19 and hospitalizations as well as asymptomatic transmission. 

Although the vaccines seem to have differing rates of efficacy, it is important to note that the clinical trials were run at different times in different places, making it impossible to compare their effectiveness directly.

Further, differences in vaccine storage requirements could mean that some people may not be able to choose which vaccine they receive. 

The current advice, therefore, is to get whichever approved vaccine is offered to you.

I’m international. Can I get the vaccine?

According to CIC News, immigration status will not be a factor in vaccine distribution, so international students will get the vaccine when their turn comes.

Until enough people are vaccinated, we must still follow public health guidelines on mask-wearing, hand hygiene, and social distancing. The end of the tunnel may finally be in sight.