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Premier Doug Ford and his long-term care minister will make an announcement this afternoon in Toronto.
On Monday, the premier, who provides daily updates on Ontario’s response to the pandemic, released details about the province’s new COVID-19 vaccine task force, which will be led by retired General Rick Hillier, a former head of the Canadian military.
Ford called vaccine distribution a “huge logistical challenge” that could turn into a “logistical nightmare” without the right planning.
“We need military precision. We need the discipline that only a general can bring to this task,” said Ford of Hillier, who served as Canadian Forces Chief of Defense between 2005 and 2008.
Ontario Minister of Health Christine Elliott previously indicated that she expects the province to receive 2.4 million combined doses of Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines during the first three months of 2021.
Recipients of the vaccines will require two doses 21 days apart, meaning initial shipments will likely be enough to protect only about 1.2 million Ontarians.
Health Canada has yet to approve both vaccines, but Elliott said planning for the early launch of the province’s COVID-19 vaccine program is “well underway.”
“This task force will be comprised of representatives from across our government and will include experts in operations and logistics, federal / provincial relations, health care, public health and immunizations, ethics, information technology and data,” he said.
“They will advise on vaccine delivery, storage and distribution, (and) support health care partners to provide a phased vaccination program that will initially prioritize vulnerable populations followed by mass immunization.”
Today’s press conference will begin at 1pm and will be streamed live on CP24.com.
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