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Under the authorities granted to him in the provincial Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act, Regional Chair Jim Bradley has created a Community Coordination Task Force for COVID-19 Vaccination to ensure that Niagara’s vaccine rollout is fair, equitable and ethical.
Under section 4(1) of the Act, the Chair may take such action as he considers necessary to protect the health, safety and welfare of the inhabitants of the emergency area. The development of this task force is in response to this section of the Act.
This past week, Niagara began vaccinating long-term care residents, staff, essential visitors, and other high risk front-line health care workers. Niagara is off to a strong start, thanks to careful planning and execution by Niagara Health and Public Health. Already, 22 per cent of long-term care homes have had their residents vaccinated after only two days, and Niagara is expected to deliver its 1000th dose today - the third day of vaccinations.
As vaccine supply increases in future months, rollout to the broader Niagara community will require coordinated work by stakeholders across our region to ensure all residents have access to, and are motivated to receive, the vaccine.
Building on mass immunization plans already developed by Public Health, this task force will undertake the following:
- Ensure a consistent and coordinated approach between all partners in the strategic delivery of vaccinations
- Localize the provincial vaccination strategy into the Niagara specific context
- Ensure high vaccination rates by building public trust through clear, accurate and culturally-informed communication on the vaccine and its safety
- Provide reports and updates to the community, the Board of Health and local municipal councils on Niagara’s vaccination activities, progress and milestones
While the specific appointments will be named next week, the composition of the task force will incorporate the expertise of a broad range of community stakeholders. Membership will include representatives from public health and the hospital system, community agencies, first responders, educational institutions, Indigenous health and social services, Niagara’s local municipalities and others.
The Regional Chair’s decision to create this task force in part responds to the direction of Niagara’s Public Health and Social Services Committee on Jan. 12, 2021 to create such a group.
Quotes
"As Niagara begins to vaccinate our long-term care home residents and front-line health care workers, it is critical that we take steps to support Public Health’s plan for the broader rollout to the community. The creation of this task force is a major milestone in the fight against the virus. This group’s mandate will ensure high levels of coordination, build public trust and provide a conduit for information sharing among all in the community." ~ Jim Bradley, Niagara Regional Chair
A message from Niagara Region.
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