While some in Ontario are receiving their second and final shot of the Pfizer vaccine on Monday, Guelph's Public Health unit has yet to receive its first doses.
A Monday afternoon event in which the first people in Guelph were to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine has been cancelled after a delay in shipment, says Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health, which was set to host the event for front line workers at its office on Chancellor's Way.
In a news release sent early Monday afternoon, WDG Public Health said the Pfizer vaccine will likely arrive as late as Friday based on best estimates from Pfizer.
The shipping delay has caused Public Health to cancel the Monday vaccinations and to reschedule 500 long-term care and retirement home staff vaccination appointments.
“This is obviously a disappointment,” said Dr. Nicola Mercer, local medical officer of Health. “Public Health has been preparing to begin vaccinating our region against COVID-19 for months. While we can all recognize this is a complex logistical challenge, I share the frustration of everyone in the region at this delay. I want to assure residents of Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph that Public Health remains ready to administer the vaccine as soon as it arrives.”
The first vaccinations against COVID-19 occurred in some other parts of the province a full 21 days ago, with some people receiving their second and final shot on Monday. Health care workers from the Rekai Centres in Toronto were the first in the province to receive a second dose of the vaccine on Monday morning.
Public Health maintains a page with information about the COVID-19 vaccine on its web site.
