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The federal government is planning the procurement and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, signing contracts with seven potential manufacturers and saying that six million doses could arrive in the country in the first quarter of 2021.
The most recent development from Ottawa came on Friday when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau contacted former NATO commander Maj. Gen. Dany Fortin to lead the national deployment effort.
But various provinces have also begun to define their plans. Here’s a look at what they’ve said so far:
new scotland
The province’s chief medical officer of health says it will release a detailed plan for the distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine once Ottawa shares more information.
Dr Robert Strang said Friday that there is still no certainty about the availability of a vaccine, but expressed hope that an initial supply will arrive in Nova Scotia early in the new year.
Strang said a detailed provincial plan, which will be published once the federal government shares more details about its demise, will include tight supply control and clear rules dictating who can be first in line for immunization.
He said he is awaiting further federal guidance on issues ranging from priority groups to transportation and storage logistics.
Quebec
The province will be ready to begin rolling out its vaccination plan starting January 1, high-level politicians say.
Premier François Legault said Thursday that public health officials have already established the list of priority recipients of the vaccine, but did not release details. Legault said the province is also working to put in place the necessary infrastructure to support the implementation of a vaccine.
This includes obtaining refrigerators capable of maintaining the extremely low temperatures required by one of the most promising potential vaccine options, currently being developed through pharmaceutical giant Pfizer.
Quebec has also hired assistant to deputy health minister Jerome Gagnon and former provincial director of public health, Dr. Richard Masse, to oversee the province’s vaccination effort.
Ontario
Premier Doug Ford is among those leaders calling on Ottawa to provide more clarity as officials rush to develop a provincial-level vaccination strategy.
Early speculation about the number of doses the province might receive was hushed earlier this week when Federal Health Minister Patty Hajdu said those details were still in the works.
But Ford went ahead, appointing former national defense chief, retired General Rick Hillier, to oversee the vaccine implementation in the province.
Hillier said on Friday he hopes to have a plan developed by the end of the year, while Ford urged Ottawa to provide detailed information on the potential vaccine delivery.
“We need a clear line of sight on the timing of shipments,” Ford said.
WATCH | Ontario prepares vaccination plan as daily case numbers hit record highs:
Ontario reported a record 1,855 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday. The head of the province’s vaccine task force says it wants to be ready for vaccine distribution by the end of the year, although the vaccine may not have arrived yet. 5:04
Alberta
The province’s top medical official said he expects to receive 680,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine early in the new year, a figure not yet confirmed by the federal government.
Dr Deena Hinshaw also said numerous obstacles and unknowns remain as the province works to work out its vaccination program.
“These [vaccine] the numbers obviously depend on many factors, ”Hinshaw said on Nov. 18.
“They depend on the last pieces of evidence that they are doing well. They depend on ensuring that the safety and efficacy of the first vaccines can be guaranteed. All these checks and balances must be cleared.”
WATCH | Hinshaw talks about a potential vaccine:
Alberta’s chief medical officer of health says that although a potential COVID-19 vaccine may come close, it’s still “a life away” and the Albertans must continue to follow health guidance. 1:50
On Friday, Hinshaw said the province is working with Ottawa to get the vaccine, but it’s “a bit of a moving target” when vaccines may be available.
“But our goal is that whenever the vaccine is available, we will be ready to start immunizing people on that highest priority list.”
British Columbia
Provincial health officials announced Wednesday that a vaccination strategy for the province is already in the works.
Dr Bonnie Henry, the best doctor in the province, said Dr Ross Brown of Vancouver Coastal Health will join the team working to organize the logistics around vaccine distribution.
Henry said frontline workers as well as those in long-term care homes will likely have priority for vaccinations.
He warned that while the province has contracts with vaccine manufacturers, there may be challenges with offshore manufacturing.
WATCH | The vaccine potential is “fantastic,” says Henry:
BC province health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said that although she hasn’t seen data from the Pfizer trial, it’s still good news if the results hold up. 1:40
“He’s very focused on who is most at risk and how to best protect them,” Henry said. “There are a lot of discussions to take place.”
Henry said the province hopes to have vaccines in hand by January.
Yukon
Prime Minister Sandy Silver told lawmakers Wednesday that the territory has been in discussions with various levels of government over a plan to launch the vaccine.
He said the goal will be to provide vaccines to the elderly and health care workers.
Silver said rural and remote communities should also get priority status in the northern regions, a fact he said he pointed out to federal authorities.
The premier said he joined with other provincial and territorial leaders to push for a national strategy for the distribution of the vaccine.
“How confusing would that be for 13 different strategies nationwide?” He said.
Silver said Pfizer’s vaccine could cause logistical problems in remote communities due to its cold storage requirements, but those problems may not apply to other vaccines in development.
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