Whenever they are completed in Ontario next year, Grey Bruce Medical Officer of Health Dr. Ian Arra assured mass vaccinations will “most certainly” bring an end to public health measures in place since March to slow the spread of Covid.
In a recent appearance on the Open Line on 560 CFOS, Dr. Arra said herd immunity could be achieved if we reach 80 per cent of the population inoculated with a vaccine efficacy of 90 per cent.
Two of the vaccine candidates currently being reviewed by Health Canada for use — from American firms Pfizer and Moderna — have efficacy rates of nearly 95 per cent in late stage clinical trials, according to recent results released by the companies.
“That will be the last nail in the coffin of this pandemic,” Arra said. “But, there’s an earlier milestone. If we vaccinate two groups, the high risk individuals and health care workers, those are the two groups that if affected, the hospital (system) will stall. And that’s where the danger about this pandemic comes.”
Arra explained inoculations can happen quickly once vaccines are approved for use and distributed.
“If you look back in the past two months, more than 30,000 to 40,000 people were vaccinated for the flu,” Arra said. “This is do-able within weeks as soon as we get the vaccine.”
Arra said a local distribution plan is complete for vaccines. He noted Chapman’s Ice Cream in Markdale connected with Public Health and are ready to provide equipment, build or purchase the necessary freezer to store the shots.
The Pfizer vaccine must be stored at around -70 C to maintain its effectiveness, while Moderna’s has to be kept at -20 C, according to multiple news reports.
“Usually the freezers in Chapman’s Ice Cream are around -30 C,” Arra noted. “But, they’re willing to build or purchase something more specialized just for this initiative.”
Arra said the Ministry of Health is also planning to distribute the freezers necessary for vaccine storage.
“However, whatever comes first, we need to be ready for,” Grey Bruce’s Medical Officer of Health added.
Dr. Arra urged everyone to do their part and stick to the “three Ws” — washing hands frequently, wearing a mask correctly and watching our distance — in this last stretch before vaccinations.
“I just ask people to stay the course and do their best to protect the most vulnerable of us,” Arra said.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Friday he expects vaccines will start arriving in Canada sometime early next year, but it may be September 2021 until the majority of Canadians are inoculated.