Colleagues,

You are likely aware of the recent COVID-19 vaccine developments, including approval of the Pfizer vaccine, the release of the Public Health Agency of Canada’s (PHAC) COVID-19 Immunization Plan, and launch of Ontario’s COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Task Force.

Like many of you, we were concerned to see no family physician representation on the Task Force. As Ontario looks to deploy vaccines, family physician voices and the role of primary care will be critical. We are partnering with other primary care and professional associations* and connecting with the Task Force to ensure primary care is a key part of Ontario’s vaccination plan. 

What we know 

• Today’s news: The Pfizer vaccine will start to be available on Monday in two centres – Ottawa and Toronto. Healthcare workers will be prioritized first, including staff working in LTC. Given the nature of this vaccine, it will not be moved out of the hospitals. This is the very beginning of a broad, longer-term campaign. See this illustration of Canada's immunization plan from the Globe and Mail, based on PHAC information.
• NACI's guidance lists priority populations for the first phase of vaccination as: residents and staff in LTC/assisted living; those of advanced age (80+); healthcare workers (see section below re: family physicians); and Indigenous communities.
• Approval and availability of vaccines will increase substantially over the coming months.

 What we don't know yet 

• How and when family physicians will access the vaccine for ourselves or our patients.
• How and when vaccines will be distributed more broadly across the province and the specific roles for pharmacy, public health, and primary care. 

 What we're doing 

• Partnering with other primary care and professional associations* to ensure family doctors and primary care are a key part of Ontario’s vaccination plan.
• Sharing resources and tools to help you answer questions from patients.
• Committing to keep you up to date as information rolls out

What can you do now? 

• Consider completing this important survey from PHAC to identify what resources would be most useful to help you discuss COVID-19 vaccines with your patients. Reach out to us if you have ideas beyond the survey at [email protected].
• Sign up for an upcoming PHAC national webinar for health professionals, including “COVID-19 Vaccine Foundations for Health Care Providers” on Monday, Dec.14 from 1:00-3:00 p.m. (EST) (English) | Tuesday, Dec.15 from 1:00-3:00 p.m. (EST) (French). Further details here.
• For more information in the days ahead, visit the COVID-19 vaccine-related webpages from PHAC and the Ontario government.

Working together with key partners and members of the Task Force, we are committed to ensuring you are well informed and equipped to best serve your patients and communities. We also hope this collaboration will ensure you get the information you need and reduce confusion. It may mean you get a similar message from different partners, but please bear with us in these early days.

Liz

*Primary care partner associations include: 

• Alliance for Healthier Communities
• Association of Family Health Teams of Ontario
• Indigenous Primary Health Care Council
• Nurse Practitioners' Association of Ontario
• Ontario Medical Association’s Section on General and Family Practice
• Ontario’s Academic Chairs of Family Medicine